Green Party LGBT News

Minimum wage	17 March 2007
Summary THE THREE per cent increase in the minimum wage announced last week will deliver a real-terms pay cut to Brighton's lowest paid workers, the LGBT Group in the Green Party said today. "What we are talking about is a 17p increase for the poorest paid workers in Brighton and Hove.

Main Body

THE THREE per cent increase in the minimum wage announced last week will deliver a real-terms pay cut to Brighton's lowest paid workers, the LGBT Group in the Green Party said today.

"What we are talking about is a 17p increase for the poorest paid workers in Brighton and Hove." Commented Phelim Mac Cafferty, "This will obviously not be enough to cover the erosion of pay by inflation. In real terms this means a pay cut for Brighton's poorest-paid workers,"

"I back the campaign for the minimum wage to be a living wage, and £5.52 an hour is simply insulting and goes nowhere near the ever-rising living costs of our city."

"The other problem with the minimum wage is that the largest rate only applies to workers over the age of 22. The minimum wage need to be extended to protect all workers, not just those over 22 - it is digraceful that any employer should be allowed to pay any worker as little as £3.40 an hour* , regardless of his or her age," Phelim Mac Cafferty said. "Many young people come to Brighton, fleeing homophobia and transphobia. They are often forced into low paid jobs and poor accommodation- these are the very people let down by this insulting rise in the minimum wage."



* The 16-17 year old rate is £3.40 per hour

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