WARRINGTON North MP Helen Jones is backing the shopworkers’ union Usdaw’s campaign ‘Time for Better Pay’.
The campaign is a reaction to a survey of over 10,000 workers that highlights the issues being faced by people on low pay, short and zero hours contracts and insecure work:
- 92% have seen no improvement in their financial situation over the past five years – of these, 63% say they are worse off;
- 76% of low-paid workers have had to rely on unsecured borrowing to pay everyday bills in the last 12 months;
- 63% say that financial worries were having an impact on their mental health.
The ‘Time for Better Pay’ campaign tackles the causes of in-work poverty and seeks to develop an economy where work pays. It calls for four key actions:
- £10 per hour minimum wage for all workers over 18;
- Minimum contract of 16 hours per week for all employees who want it;
- The right to a contract based on an individual’s normal hours of work, and;
- An end to the misuse of zero hours contracts.
The launch of the campaign comes only a matter of days after the Living Wage Foundation published figures showing that 22.9% (nearly one quarter) of people in work in Warrington North earn less than they need to live on.
HELEN JONES said;
“I am happy to give my support to this campaign coming a matter of days after the truly shocking report by the Living Wage Foundation showed just how many working people in my constituency are earning less than they need to live on.
“For too long low paid and insecure work has been a scourge on our society. It holds back economic growth and affects people’s well-being. We need significant labour market changes to rectify the problem.
“Inflation continues to outstrip average earnings and low paid workers and their families are finding difficulties making ends meet. Many are forced to claim in-work benefits and take second jobs. It is clear that the government’s so called ‘national living wage’ is not one that people can live on.
“Short-hours contracts are just as exploitative as zero-hours contracts with many workers regularly working extra hours that aren’t guaranteed in their contracts, leaving them extremely vulnerable.
“Workers should be valued by their employer and that means having a secure job that pays a wage they can live on. “
