Shopworkers’ trade union leader Paddy Lillis has welcomed a
wide-ranging address to the annual TUC conference in Manchester
by MP, Labour’s Shadow
Chancellor, which was packed with commitments to improve workers’
rights.
Responding to the speech, Paddy Lillis
– Usdaw General Secretary says: “We welcome
the commitment to help workers on zero and short-hours
contracts by requiring employers to guarantee a minimum number
of hours for their staff. It is clear that Labour fully
understands the problems low-paid workers have in getting
enough hours to make a weekly wage they can live on.
“While statistics show unemployment is falling, this
masks the reality of underemployment for many working people.
An increasing number of job roles are offered on zero and
short-hours contracts, leaving workers struggling to get the
hours they need.
“Only a Labour Government will deliver for our members
who are struggling to make ends meet because they are on less
than £10 per hour and have insecure jobs where they cannot
guarantee their hours from week to week.”
An Usdaw survey of over 10,000 workers shows that:
- 1 in 4 are contracted to 16 hours or less.
- 1 in 3 workers want to work longer hours but were not
able to increase their contract with their employer; as a
result 28% of members either had or were looking for a second
job.
- 80% of workers contracted for 16 hours or less earn under
£8.50 per hour.
Usdaw’s ‘Time for Better Pay’
campaign tackles the causes of in-work
poverty and seeks to develop an economy where work pays. Using
the evidence gathered through our extensive research, the
campaign is calling 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
- An end to the misuse of zero hour contracts.
