Minimum wage increase needs to be bolder, says TUC

24 Feb 2015 02:33 PM

Commenting on details revealed recently of the new minimum wage rates, to be introduced from October 2015, TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said:

“It is good that the minimum wage is set to go up more than average earnings, but if the recovery is really as strong and sustained as the Chancellor claims, the Commission could have been braver and given Britain’s lowest paid workers a bigger boost.

“We also need much bolder action to give those on the lowest pay a fair share of the recovery, including new modern wages councils to set higher minimum rates in industries where employers can afford to pay more.”

NOTES TO EDITORS:

- The TUC is organising Fair Pay Fortnight 2015 between Monday 16 February and Sunday 1 March. The Fortnight is part of the TUC’s Britain Needs a Pay Rise campaign and will feature a series of events across England and Wales to raise awareness about low pay, pay inequality and the need for higher pay settlements in the public and private sector. For more information please visit www.fairpayfortnight.org

- All TUC press releases can be found at www.tuc.org.uk

- Follow the TUC on Twitter: @tucnews

Contacts:

Media enquiries:
Alex Rossiter  T: 020 7467 1285  M: 07887 572130  E: arossiter@tuc.org.uk
Tim Nichols  T: 020 7467 1337  M: 07876 452902  E: tnichols@tuc.org.uk
Clare Santry  T: 020 7467 1372  M: 07717 531150  E: csantry@tuc.org.uk