KEY workers should be given an immediate pay rise of at least £2 an hour, a leading trade union organisation has said.
The Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) said the salary increase should be granted due to the vital role key workers are playing during the coronavirus crisis, and the subsequent challenges facing society.
It is urging employers and the Government to consider the increase for NHS workers, carers, other emergency workers, front-line council workers, school support staff, nursery workers, retail workers, transport employees, and contact centre and factory staff.
The STUC also wants the increase to apply to “unseen” public service workers – including those in the government – while it says the statutory minimum wage should be increased to £10 per hour for all staff.
STUC general secretary Rozanne Foyer said: “We know that the priority of key workers across the country during this crisis is keeping others well, safe and supplied.
“But just because that it their priority, it doesn’t mean we should forget their needs. We need to reverse the long-term trend of undervaluing these heroes, and we need to start now.
“So many of these workers came into this crisis undervalued and underpaid. They are many of the same people who bore the brunt of the 2010 recession. More than half of them are women.
“We want to ensure that as we emerge from this current crisis, history does not repeat itself.”
Office for National Statistics data from 2019 highlighted by the STUC suggests a third of key workers earn £10 an hour or less.
Figures also show the typical key worker earns £1 an hour less than the typical earner in a non-key occupation – £12.26 compared to £13.26.
Foyer hailed the weekly “clap for carers” on Thursday evenings to support health and care staff, but said “a real difference” could be made to staff by increasing their wages.
She added: “The country has shown great appreciation by clapping key workers’ magnificent commitment every Thursday, but we believe people want to make sure they are able to pay the rent and the food bills they face.
“This basic minimum should apply to all workers, whatever their age.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel