Ministers “must put money in people’s pockets”, says TUC

Commenting on today’s (Tuesday) ONS labour market figures, which show real wage growth fell by 3.4%, and public sector pay plummeted by 4.5%, TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak said:

“The longest wages slump in modern history shows no sign of letting up.

“Hard-pressed families can’t take much more. It is no surprise that workers are having to take strike action to defend their living standards.

“Ministers should be focused on resolving all of the current pay disputes.

“And they must act now to put money in people’s pockets – starting with giving our public sector workers a real pay rise, boosting the minimum wage to £15 as soon as possible, and ending their attack on the right to strike for better pay and conditions in the Strikes Bill.”

Commenting on the number of days lost to strike action, Paul Nowak added:

“Workers have lost hundreds of pounds from their annual pay over the last year and they’re struggling to get by – the last thing they want is to lose more pay by going on strike.

“But in the public sector, ministers are dragging their heels on meaningful negotiations. That’s why staff have had no choice but to use their right to strike to defend their pay.

“The Conservative government will not resolve pay disputes by rushing in new laws that attack the right to strike. The best way to settle disputes is around the negotiating table – and with credible pay offers that protect workers from rising prices.”