Pay cap forces public service staff into debt, says UNISON

  Staff providing vital public services are being forced into debt, into cutting back on groceries, having to go without heating and even a daily meal, because of the government’s pay cap, according to research by UNISON.   The findings released today (Sunday) will increase pressure on ministers to give all public service employees a proper pay rise ahead of the annual Trades Union Congress (TUC), which opens in Brighton later today A survey* of nearly 11,000 employees including paramedics, teaching assistants, hospital porters and police staff across the UK highlights how years of wage restraint have left people struggling through to the next pay day. Many are even thinking of quitting for better-paid work as a result. More than two in five (43 per cent) described their standard of living as worse than a year ago, and a quarter (26 per cent) said they owed more money than they did 12 months ago. The increased cost of everyday items meant some (nine per cent) of those who responded are going without a regular daily meal or failing to keep their home warm (17 per cent), just so they can balance their household budgets. Seven in ten (72 per cent) are spending more on council tax, more than two-thirds (68 per cent) have had to increase their outlay on food, and nearly three in five (59 per cent) have seen their gas and electricity bills rise. A separate UK-wide survey** of more than 6,500 public service employees presents a worrying picture o...
Source: UNISON meat hygiene - Category: Food Science Authors: Tags: News Press release Source Type: news