£3.60 an hour is too low T&G by Nicky Clarke
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• The Low Pay Unit's recommendation for a minimum wage of £3.60 an hour received a mixed reaction from industry last week: unions are condemning the figure as "distressingly low" and failing to address the problem of low pay.
"We're disappointed that the Low Pay Unit has arrived at this figure and hope that the Government will be more realistic," says Transport and General Workers Union nation al officer, road transport Danny Bryan. The unit is recommending the £3.60 rate after consultation with industry. The Govexnment will decide whether to accept its recommendation over the next few weeks.
But the Road Haulage Association welcomes the figure. "Most people pay the Joint Industrial Council rate of £4.40 or more—it is simply not an issue," says RHA head of employment Ruth Potts. Most RHA members have been paying more than £4 an hour for three or four years, she adds.
But Bryan says the rate will affect large numbers of drivers: "Many members are on a figure of above 13.60 but a large section of people driving for a living are on between £3 and £4 an hour." El Bryan would like to hear from anyone working in the industry who is earning less than £3.60.
Contact the T&G on 0171 828 7788.