New ONS research shows Britain needs living wages, says TUC
4 Jul 2014 02:55 PM
Commenting on a new analysis of
earnings growth over the last 40 years, published yesterday (Thursday) by the
Office for National Statistics, TUC General Secretary Frances
O’Grady said:
“The last 40 years show a
picture of growing wage inequality. The more you earn, the faster your pay goes
up, while the less you earn the slower it goes up. The minimum wage has bucked
this trend for the very poorest, but we need to go further.
“A short term fall in
inequality from the financial crisis hitting top earners is not the lasting
change we need. Now the economy is growing again, the priority must be a pay
rise for Britain’s workers. It’s time to build on the minimum wage
and bring in living wages to end the injustice of in work
poverty.”
NOTES TO
EDITORS:
- The ONS release is
‘UK Wages Over the Past Four Decades,
2014’
http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/lmac/uk-wages-over-the-past-four-decades/20
14/rep---uk-wages-over-the-past-four-decades.html
- This autumn the TUC is
organising a mass demonstration in London under the banner of ‘Britain
Needs a Pay Rise’. It will take place on Saturday 18 October 2014, and
will begin with a march through central London, culminating in a rally in Hyde
Park.
- All TUC press releases can be
found at www.tuc.org.uk
- Follow the TUC on Twitter:
@tucnews
- Congress 2014 will be held at
the Arena and Convention Centre, Liverpool, from
Sunday 7 September to Wednesday 10 September. Free media passes can be obtained
by visiting www.tuc.org.uk/media-credentials and completing an online form.
Applications must be in by noon on Wednesday 27 August. Any received later than
that will be processed in Liverpool and will cost £75.
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Media enquiries:
Liz Chinchen T: 020 7467 1248 M: 07778
158175 E: media@tuc.org.uk
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Tim Nichols T: 020
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