Signing the Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) up to the campaign, Grahame Smith STUC General Secretary, said
‘Decisive action on low pay would make a significant difference for families across Scotland and the United Kingdom. Over 50% of children who are living in poverty are in households where one or both parents are in work.
The STUC will be working with all those campaigning to end child poverty, the impact of which is completely unacceptable’
Many workers are facing wage restraint policies as the cost of living rises, and representatives of public sector trade unions in attendance at the STUC General Council meeting today also endorsed the End Child Poverty Campaign
Jimmy Farrelly UNITE, ‘Employers in local government and in the Scottish government are seeking to restrict the income of the lowest paid workers, already perilously close to the minimum wage level. This situation is shameful, will increase the number of children in Scotland living in poverty, and must be addressed by the employers’
Katrina Murray ‘UNISON is proud to be supporting this campaign as it highlights the effect that what seems to be a relatively small amount of money actually has on the lives of working families and children. The easiest way to lift children out of poverty is to raise not only the minimum wage but also the pay of our lowest paid workers’
Eddie Reilly PCS ‘The Government, both in Scotland and at Westminster, could really make a difference in children’s lives by addressing the low pay of many of its own workers. It is time to take responsibility for the living standards of the workforce’
ENDS
More information about the End Child Poverty campaign can be found on www.endchildpoverty.org.uk
Media contact Ann Henderson Assistant Secretary STUC 0141 337 8100