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Union marches: thousands to demonstrate over pay Union marches: thousands to demonstrate over pay
(about 3 hours later)
Tens of thousands of people are expected to join protests calling for an increase in pay following a week of industrial action organised by unions.Tens of thousands of people are expected to join protests calling for an increase in pay following a week of industrial action organised by unions.
Health workers went on strike on Monday in protest at the government's below-inflation 1% pay offer, with civil servants walking out on Wednesday.Health workers went on strike on Monday in protest at the government's below-inflation 1% pay offer, with civil servants walking out on Wednesday.
Rallies organised by the TUC and other union bodies will be held in London, Glasgow and Belfast. Rallies organised by the TUC and other union bodies will be held in London, Glasgow and Belfast later.
The government says that pay restraint has safeguarded jobs and services.The government says that pay restraint has safeguarded jobs and services.
'End the lock-out''End the lock-out'
The Trades Union Congress (TUC) is organising the protests under the theme of "Britain Needs a Pay Rise".The Trades Union Congress (TUC) is organising the protests under the theme of "Britain Needs a Pay Rise".
They say average wages have fallen by £50 a week in real terms since 2008.They say average wages have fallen by £50 a week in real terms since 2008.
TUC general secretary Frances O'Grady 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."TUC general secretary Frances O'Grady 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."
She added that top directors earn 175 times more than the average worker, yet five million people are earning less than the living wage.She added that top directors earn 175 times more than the average worker, yet five million people are earning less than the living wage.
"If politicians wonder why so many feel excluded from the democratic process, they should start with bread and butter living standards," said Ms O'Grady. "If politicians wonder why so many feel excluded from the democratic process, they should start with bread and butter living standards," she said.
"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.""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."
CASE STUDY: 'AUSTERITY ISN'T WORKING'
John Lynch, an admin assistant at the tax office in Liverpool, is one of those travelling to the march in London.
He says he earns just under £19,000 a year, while his wife, who works part time, earns £8,000 a year. They have three children.
They shop at a range of supermarkets for the best deals, including Iceland and Aldi, and buy their "luxuries" from Tesco, he told the BBC.
John, 47, said the last few months had been "hard" for the family because their eldest son had left school and their tax credits had been reduced.
He said: "At first in the recession, we probably thought maybe we all have to tighten our belts and we were told it may be for a year or so.
"I remember Cameron and Clegg in the prime minister debates saying they would freeze public sector pay for 12 months. We are now four years in and pay is still frozen."
On the raising of tax-free allowance, he said: "It's a little help but when we are increasing pension contributions and cutting pay it's not a big help at all.
"Austerity isn't working."
GMB union general secretary Paul Kenny said members' living standards "continue to decline".GMB union general secretary Paul Kenny said members' living standards "continue to decline".
"People are currently facing the biggest squeeze on their incomes since Victorian times, and wages have fallen in real terms every year since 2010," he said."People are currently facing the biggest squeeze on their incomes since Victorian times, and wages have fallen in real terms every year since 2010," he said.
'Fair reward'
Monday's industrial action was the first strike over pay in the NHS since the 1980s - and the first time midwives had taken action in their history.Monday's industrial action was the first strike over pay in the NHS since the 1980s - and the first time midwives had taken action in their history.
Hospital radiographers and prison officers will take strike action in the coming week over the same dispute. 'Depth of feeling'
Cathy Warwick, chief executive of the Royal College of Midwives, said the response from midwives showed the "depth of feeling" over the issue. Hospital radiographers and prison officers will take strike action in the coming week as part of the same dispute.
Cathy Warwick, chief executive of the Royal College of Midwives, said the response from its members showed the "depth of feeling" over the issue.
She added: "For too long our members and their fellow workers have suffered pay freezes with income rapidly falling behind the real cost of living.She added: "For too long our members and their fellow workers have suffered pay freezes with income rapidly falling behind the real cost of living.
"They are not asking to be paid like bankers, just for a fair reward for the work they do.""They are not asking to be paid like bankers, just for a fair reward for the work they do."
Following a TUC attack on high boardroom pay on Friday, a government spokesman said: "Under this Government we've seen the largest annual fall in unemployment, more people in work than ever before, and this year the first above-inflation rise in the national minimum wage since the recession. Following a TUC attack on high boardroom pay on Friday, a government spokesman said: "Under this government we've seen the largest annual fall in unemployment, more people in work than ever before, and this year the first above-inflation rise in the national minimum wage since the recession.
"We appreciate that although we are now on the road to recovery, the effects of the recession are still being felt. This is why we have taken continued action to help people by cutting income tax and freezing fuel duty."We appreciate that although we are now on the road to recovery, the effects of the recession are still being felt. This is why we have taken continued action to help people by cutting income tax and freezing fuel duty.
"We also want to restore the link between top pay and performance... we have introduced comprehensive reforms which give shareholders more power to hold companies to account over what they pay and why.""We also want to restore the link between top pay and performance... we have introduced comprehensive reforms which give shareholders more power to hold companies to account over what they pay and why."