Union Hits Out At Govt's 'Derisory' National Minimum Wage Increase

The government's 'derisory' 12p-an-hour increase in the national minimum wage is 'completely inadequate', given the need to pump demand into the economy, Unite said.

Unite general secretary Len McCluskey said: "Unite has called repeatedly for the national minimum wage to be increased immediately by £1-an-hour to pump demand into an economy battered by George Osborne’s grim austerity programme.

"An increase of £1-an-hour would have the twin-pronged effect of putting money into the wallets and purses of the lowest paid in the UK. They would then have a small extra incentive to spend in the country's high streets, already on its knees because of the flatlining economy.

"Such a £1 uplift is a more sensible way to help people off benefits - and much more humane than what the government is currently doing with its savage welfare cuts. In the long-term, increasing the national minimum wage could save the country billions.

"The 12p increase announced is derisory - and does nothing to help those already struggling with soaring household bills.

"The government urgently needs to pump demand and confidence into the economy - and a significant boost to the national minimum wage would be one way of doing that."

(CD)