UNISONActive is an unofficial blog produced by UNISON activists for UNISON activists. Bringing news, briefings and events from a progressive left perspective.

Wednesday 2 March 2011

Grim Resolution for new financial year

The Commission on Living Standards launched by the Resolution Foundation this week will address negative long-term economic trends, from wages to working patterns, which are eroding the quality of life for workers on low-to-middle incomes. This situation is compounded by the tax increases and benefit cuts which will adversely affect millions of UK citizens from 5 April:
http://www.resolutionfoundation.org/media/media/downloads/LOST_DECADE_press_notice.pdf

‘Official figures show that wages had already stopped growing as far back as 2003, when the economy was still experiencing strong growth. And other long-term trends are also hitting low-to-middle earners hard. Home-ownership is slipping out of reach – with 41% of young low-to-middle earners now in privately rented accommodation compared to 14% in 1988 – and a shifting jobs market means that mid-level jobs are increasingly scarce.’