[The autumn of action will continue with a national day of action on Friday 14 October, and a mass lobby of Parliament on Wednesday 19 October. Photo credit: Shutterstock]
The TUC is calling for a £15 national minimum wage as soon as possible, and policy to put higher wages at the heart of the UK’s economic strategy.
Sign the TUC's petition for a £15 minimum wage.
This petition is just the first step in the fight for £15. Over the next few weeks, the TUC will be holding townhall rallies across England and Wales.
The autumn of action will continue with a national day of action on Friday 14 October, and a mass lobby of Parliament on Wednesday 2 November. Find out more from the TUC about the mass lobby and sign up using this form.
A framework to get wages rising
More than a decade on from the 2008 financial crisis, UK workers are earning £88 a month less in real terms.
We’re living though what the TUC describe as the “longest and harshest wage squeeze in 200 years,” and for many it is the biggest cost of living crisis in a lifetime. Meanwhile CEO pay has gone up 39%.
In addition to a £15 minimum wage, the TUC wants to see a return to normal wage growth to get average wages up and a 75% minimum wage target.
Read more in the TUC’s report 'Raising pay for everyone'.
Making the minimum wage fair for all workers
Speaking to the BBC, TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady also made the case for young workers for whom the minimum wage starts at just £4.62:
"If they're working as hard doing the same job, why should they be discriminated against simply because they're under 23?"
The TUC’s call was also picked up by The Times, Guardian, Yorkshire Post, Labour List and Independent.