TUC votes for £10 minimum wage


Neil Cafferky

The first day of the TUC congress was dominated by discussion over pay in the public and private sectors.

Moving composite eleven on public sector pay and living standards, Unison general secretary Dave Prentis said that unions must be prepared to build on the action of 10 July. Seconding the motion, Chris Baugh from the PCS union said that now is the time to make the case for a pay rise.

In a moving speech in support, Kathy Smith from Unite told the story of one of her members. Working in schools to take care of children with cerebral palsy for £12,000 a year, she was denied a pay rise. But at the same time, the CEO of her borough – Bromley – was making over £200,000 a year and councillors were claiming over £1 million in expenses.

A motion to support the demand of a £10 an hour minimum wage was moved by Ronnie Draper from the bakers’ union. He said that a £10 minimum wage would lift five million workers out of poverty. The motion was inspired by the struggle of workers in America for $15 an hour. Ronnie said: “We need a bold TUC to achieve this. We’re not asking for the moon, we’re asking for the means to transport our members there!”

Supporting the motion, a GMB union rep said he was sick of hearing that these demands were bold and radical. £10 an hour and proper working conditions are the least that workers can demand. The motion was passed unanimously.