UK NEWS
UNIONS CALL FOR MINIMUM WAGE RISE
Unison called for further increases in the national minimum wage
Union leaders have called for further increases in the national minimum wage as they marked the 10th anniversary of the statutory rate being introduced.
Dave Prentis, general secretary of Unison, will cut a special cake in the Commons to celebrate the anniversary, saying that the current £5.73 an hour rate should increase to £7.45 by October 2010.
The union also wants apprentices to be covered by the minimum wage, adding that the "development rate" for younger workers should be scrapped as it "discriminated" against young people.
Mr Prentis said: "The minimum wage is an historic achievement for Unison and its 10th anniversary is cause for huge celebration. However, the decision date for this year's rise was delayed and so we are unable to celebrate fully until we hear the new rate.
"We are calling for the minimum wage to be defended and improved to help the economy and protect low paid workers during the current crisis. Food and energy costs continue to take up too much of the family budget, leaving little or no room for anything else."
Business Secretary Lord Mandelson said the minimum wage had been a "huge success", making sure workers were treated fairly, whatever the economic climate.
"We are determined to protect the rights that everyone in the UK is entitled to - this is a basic matter of fairness and helps ensure a level playing field for business.
"Before it was introduced, there was no limit on how little employees could be paid and I am sure that no-one could now imagine a return to those times," Lord Mandelson said.
TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said: "If we want to build a strong UK economy that is fair to all its citizens then we must continue to develop the minimum wage during the coming decade. The recession was caused by very highly paid people damaging the nation's financial system. It would not be fair to make the low paid suffer a wage freeze while city bankers still get bonuses, and when there is no economic necessity to do so."
The adult rate of the minimum wage has risen by 59% since its introduction in April 1999 - from £3.60 to the current rate. Around one million people benefit each time the rate rises.
