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

Friday 13 December 2013

Real wages cut for fifth year in a row

UNISON Scotland's Public Works blog reports that full-time earnings have now fallen by 6.2% in Scotland since 2010 leaving workers £1753 worse off, with the gender pay gap widening. http://publicworksscotland.blogspot.co.uk/2013/12/real-wages-cut-for-fifth-year-in-row.html


The analysis of the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) figures released yesterday shows public sector workers are hardest hit. "The median gross weekly pay of full-time employees in the public sector was £574 in April 2013, up 1.6% from £564 in 2012. For the private sector the comparable figure was £490, up 2.3% from £479 in 2012", says the blog. Apparently the big winners are farmers, with a 21.8% increase in earnings, followed closely by undertakers at 20.3%.

The blog also runs helpful infographics on this and on the latest data on family income and spending from the Office for National Statistics which show that disposable income for working households in Britain has fallen by £1,500 in the past two years. http://publicworksscotland.blogspot.co.uk/2013/12/working-households-lose-1500.html