MANDATE accuses Government of targeting low income workers and their families in Budget 2012

Tuesday 6 December 2011

Douglas says stealth tax rises and welfare cuts represent a ‘double whammy’ for lower income workers

Union acknowledges increases in Universal Social Charge threshold but says Government should have gone further

The Mandate trade union has accused the Government of targeting workers on lower and middle incomes in the 2012 Budget. The union’s General Secretary, John Douglas, says that the increases in VAT, carbon tax and other stealth taxes combined with cuts made to welfare payments, such as Child Benefit, represent a ‘double whammy’ for lower income workers. Mandate Trade Union represents over 45,000 workers in the bar and retail trades.

“This afternoon the Government confirmed a number of stealth tax increases that will disproportionately affect those on lower incomes. VAT is going up by 2% – which will adversely affect business in the retail trade where our members work &ndash