Some workers will be excited for a pay rise in April as the National 'Living' Wage comes into force. But is it really a great deal for workers? Or is it fool's gold?

The minimum wage is rising from £6.70 an hour to £7.20. But here's the catch - it will only affect over-25s!

Even for them, a 50p increase is not enough to make up for years of rising costs of living. The chancellor, George Osborne, has said that the aim is for the living wage to be over £9 an hour by 2020. By then inflation will mean there is no real pay rise at all!

And the bosses will try to take advantage of this and divide workers. For example, where there are zero-hour contracts they could give fewer hours to the more 'expensive' over-25s compared to the 'cheaper' younger workers.

The Treasury tries to justify the age exemption by saying "the priority is to secure work and gain experience." The millionaires' cabinet seem to be ignoring the reality that prices and bills are the same whatever your age! How are young people supposed to be able to live independently, start a family or just enjoy life?

Fast food rights

We have no option but to keep fighting for a £10 an hour minimum wage now for workers of all ages and an end to zero-hour contracts. We must also demand the right to organise in trade unions in workplaces that don't recognise them - including the multi-million pound fast food companies.

The Tories are only raising the minimum wage at all because they have felt pressure from trade unions and campaigns like Fast Food Rights, which was launched by the bakers' union BFAWU, Youth Fight for Jobs and others.

We must be united and organised to continue fighting for a real pay rise that puts workers' needs before the bosses' greed. We can win a real living wage and oust this hated and divided government.

The Trade Union Congress must show a lead in coordinating action by other workers with the junior doctors, as a step towards a 24-hour general strike.

Join the protest in your local area on 1 April for a proper living wage, decent contracts and trade union rights. If nothing is planned near you yet, consider organising a protest or meeting.

See details of local events - www.youthfightforjobs.com
Let Youth Fight for Jobs know about your plans - [email protected]
Send reports to Youth Fight for Jobs and [email protected]

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Finance appeal

The coronavirus crisis has laid bare the class character of society in numerous ways. It is making clear to many that it is the working class that keeps society running, not the CEOs of major corporations.

The results of austerity have been graphically demonstrated as public services strain to cope with the crisis.

The government has now ripped up its 'austerity' mantra and turned to policies that not long ago were denounced as socialist. But after the corona crisis, it will try to make the working class pay for it, by trying to claw back what has been given.

The Socialist Party's material is more vital than ever, so we can continue to report from workers who are fighting for better health and safety measures, against layoffs, for adequate staffing levels, etc.
When the health crisis subsides, we must be ready for the stormy events ahead and the need to arm workers' movements with a socialist programme - one which puts the health and needs of humanity before the profits of a few.

Inevitably, during the crisis we have not been able to sell the Socialist and raise funds in the ways we normally would.

We therefore urgently appeal to all our viewers to donate to our Fighting Fund.