Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Pay protests: Thousands march for better wages as unions demonstrate across Britain

Public sector workers and union members are demonstrating in London, Glasgow and Belfast

Ben Tufft
Saturday 18 October 2014 10:57 EDT
Comments
Protesters march through London as part of the TUC 'Britain Needs a Pay Rise' demonstration
Protesters march through London as part of the TUC 'Britain Needs a Pay Rise' demonstration (PA)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Tens of thousands of public sector workers and their supporters are marching in cities across the UK to demand better pay.

The “Britain needs a Pay Rise” marches, organised by the TUC, are underway in London, Glasgow and Belfast in protest at the Government’s offer of a 1 per cent pay rise.

Unions say that ordinary people are now facing the biggest squeeze on their incomes since the Victorian period. Average wages have fallen by £50 a week in real terms, while directors now earn 175 times more than the average worker.

Frances O’Grady, the TUC general secretary who has been tweeting to her supporters, said: “Our message is that after the longest and deepest pay squeeze in recorded history, it’s time to end the lock-out that has kept the vast majority from sharing in the economic recovery.

“An economy that finds money for tax cuts for the rich and boardroom greed, while the rest face a pay squeeze and big cuts to the welfare system –that any of us might need – is no longer working for the many.”

Organisers hope that the public's discontentment at the growing gap between rich and poor will encourage those not affected by the Government’s pay offer to join the marches.

In London, demonstrators are marching from Embankment, before gathering at Hyde Park to listen to speakers including comedians Andy Parsons and Amy Lamé.

Russell Brand has been spotted among the protesters and actor Robert Lindsay has tweeted his support to the demonstrators.

One of Britain’s largest general unions, GMB, is participating in all the marches. Its general secretary, Paul Kenny, said: “Members have faced imposed pay freezes, or derisory pay offers which do not bring earnings up to the levels that were lost during this long running recession.

Frances O'Grady, general secretary of the TUC
Frances O'Grady, general secretary of the TUC (Getty)

“Wealth and income inequality in the UK is now once again at pre WW1 levels. The divide in society has never been wider and we are seeing a return to the days of the workhouse with food banks becoming the soup kitchen.”

The Government has said that without the modest pay increases for public sector workers jobs and services would be at risk.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in