Mandate Trade Union claims latest data shows people on lower incomes are being squeezed the hardest
Friday 10 September 2010Union says Government has to ensure that people on low incomes are protected in December’s Budget
The Mandate trade union today claimed that the latest economic data shows that people on lower incomes are being squeezed the hardest by the recession. In this context, the union’s General Secretary, John Douglas, called on the Government to ensure that those on low incomes are protected in December’s Budget. Mandate represents almost 50,000 workers in the retail trade.
“Today’s earnings figures published by the Central Statistics Office show that the weekly earnings of the lowest paid workers in the economy – clerical, sales and service staff – fell by 5.9% in the year to the first quarter of 2010. Average weekly earnings for such staff are now less than €470 per week and work out at around €24,000 per year.
“Ironically, while the incomes of the lowest paid workers are falling lower than others within the economy, the pressure they are experiencing from rising prices is the greatest. Yesterday’s inflation figures demonstrate that the cost of transport has increased somewhat with quite significant increases in clothing and footwear prices as well as home-related costs like electricity charges.
“As a result, lower-paid workers are being caught the hardest in the pincer movement of declining incomes and increasing costs. This is why Mandate, as the union that represents retail workers, is calling on the Government to ensure that those on low incomes suffer no further declines through welfare cuts or increased taxation in December’s Budget,” John Douglas concluded.
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