Unions demanding pay rises to keep up with ‘brutal’ cost of living

Unions are stepping up demands for big pay rises to keep up with “soaring” inflation, warning that the cost-of-living crisis has become “brutal”.

One union leader said the Government had “lost control”, while ministers were urged to provide more money for pay rises for public sector workers.

Union officials said workers were not to blame for rising inflation, with the RPI rate now 7.8%, amid continued anger over a call for pay restraint from the Bank of England governor.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “It’s a national disgrace that some workers in this country have to choose between heating and eating while profits rain down in boardrooms.

“Unite will continue to demand significant pay increases to combat this brutal cost-of-living crisis because we must restore some fairness to working life in the UK.”

Unite said the crisis could become a “catastrophe” for many from April when taxes rise and millions of people will see a big increase on their energy bills.

Ms Graham added: “Where employers can pay, they should pay. We are fed up of rich men telling workers they have to pay for boardroom greed and colossal market failure.”

Gary Smith, GMB general secretary, said: “Inflation is rampant, energy prices are rocketing and people’s pockets are squeezed harder than they’ve been for a generation.

“Meanwhile the Bank of England boss doesn’t want workers to get a decent pay rise.

“The Government has lost control. They’ve overseen a shambolic energy strategy that has left us with no gas storage, a regressive green poll tax on poorly paid workers and wind turbines built on the other side of the world instead of here at home.

“Meanwhile bill-payers have to fork out for failed energy companies.

“But bosses be warned: GMB members aren’t taking it lying down, they are taking on employers and winning the big pay rises they deserve.”

Unison general secretary Christina McAnea said: “This is the stuff of nightmares. Households already feeling the pinch will be aghast at this latest hike in living costs.

“For many low and middle earners, food, energy and transport are quickly becoming unaffordable luxuries.

“Record numbers of workers are leaving the labour market and employers are struggling to fill vacancies. Those that can are having to up their game and pay premium wages.

“Unless the Government now provides more money for the public sector, the pay of those running essential services will slip further and further behind, while living costs rocket.

“If there’s no extra cash for inflation-beating wage rises, health, care, council, police and education services could lose so many staff they’ll no longer be able to deliver for the public.”

TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady said: “If real wages keep losing value, families will spend less, business revenues will fall, and the recovery will be choked off.

“But there is a way out of the cost-of-living crisis. The Chancellor must fund real pay rises across the public sector and raise the minimum wage to £10. This will boost household spending, helping businesses recover and creating conditions for wage growth across the economy.”