Workers in Bristol are set to lose £1,200 in real wages this year

Wages in Bristol are set to be worth £1,200 a year less this year – in real terms, once inflation has been taken into consideration – than in 2021, according to new TUC analysis.

The analysis of official data shows that average real wages will fall by around £1,197 compared to last year.

The stark findings are published as the TUC brings together union leaders and workers at Tony Benn House today (Wednesday) ahead of the union body’s National Day of Action to demand better for working people – and a parliamentary lobby on 2 November.

The median salary in Bristol in 2021 was £27,151. Based on Office for Budget Responsibility forecasts, analysis by the TUC sees the value of wages in Bristol falling by around £1,200 as soaring inflation outstrips the increase in wages.

The TUC says years of stagnating pay have left workers “badly exposed” to Britain’s cost of living crisis.

The union body says the government must take urgent action to raise wages, protect families from spiralling household costs and give households long-term financial security.

Urgent action needed

The TUC says ministers must:

Raise wages and improve workers’ rights by:

• Introducing a £15 minimum wage as soon as possible
• Giving all public sector workers a real pay rise
• Banning zero-hours contracts and fire and rehire
• Bringing forward inflation-proof raises to universal credit and pensions to October
• Introducing new bargaining rights for whole industries and protecting the right to strike
• Raising women’s incomes and stopping workplace racism

Reduce household costs by:

• Cutting energy bills, nationalising energy retail and setting up a new public energy champion
• Rolling out a rapid programme of home insulation

TUC Regional Secretary for the South West Nigel Costley said:

“Nobody who works for a living should be losing sleep over how they will pay their bills this winter.

“But soaring costs mean pay packets in Bristol have taken a sharp fall – in real terms – in just 12 months.

“Everything is going up but wages. Years of pay stagnation have left workers badly exposed to Britain’s cost of living crisis.

“The prime minister and chancellor may have u-turned on their decision to hand out tax cuts to millionaires, but they're still letting bankers' bonuses soar and cutting taxes for big business, all the while ignoring the crisis facing families.

“Things can’t go on like this. The government must do far more to get pay rising, and to protect workers from skyrocketing bills.

“We’re coming together in an autumn of action to demand better for all workers.”

“Families are under intolerable financial pressure with costs spiralling out of control.

“Bristol is a great place with great people, but workers here are facing the biggest fall in living standards in generations.

“We’re bringing unions, local workers, and community activists together to say all workers deserve better. The government must do more to help working people have a decent standard of living – starting with getting wages rising.

“Now is the time for workers to come together.”