Wages not based on ages
- Alice Pitchford, GMB Young Members
- Apr 23, 2018
- 2 min read
On Saturday 7th April 2018, Young Members from all Regions gathered in Birmingham City Centre before their National Young Members Network meeting to raise awareness of this year’s priority campaign “Wages Not Based on Ages”.
Armed with postcards and pens, our passionate Young Members had conversations with people of all ages, gathering signatures ahead of the second reading of the National Living Wage (Extension to Young People) Bill in Parliament on 6th July 2018, asking MPs to vote IN FAVOUR of the extension.
The “Wages Not Based on Ages” campaign focuses on ending the pay discrimination young people are facing and hopes to make hourly wage banding for different ages a thing of the past.
'It's ridiculous how those who are aged 18-24 are often paid up to 46% less than co-workers for completing the same jobs. I am campaigning for a Living Wage for all as all workers have the right to a well-paid job no matter their age" – Ruth Pitchford, Chair of the Young Members Network
Currently, young people can be paid up to 46% less* for doing the same roles as people aged 25 and above and the National Living Wage does not apply to under 25’s, meaning that younger, sometimes more experienced, workers are paid less than their older colleagues doing the same job.
After conversations with the public in Birmingham, it became apparent that this was something the public are happy to support and the feedback on the day was positive and inspiring; with some parents telling their children they were signing the postcards to help them in the future whilst others were encouraging their teenage children to sign the postcards themselves.
“It was great to welcome the network to Birmingham to do some campaigning on our priority campaign, Wages Not Based on Ages, and it was great to see so many people engaging with our campaign and taking an interest in what is going on! Hopefully we’ll get enough MPs to attend the Second Reading in Parliament on July 6th to support this bill and get to continue the fight against age and wage discrimination.” – Sam Benham, Young Member from Birmingham and West Midlands
"Whilst speaking to people, you could see they were genuinely interested in the campaign and they were happy to stop and talk. Even those who didn't stop to talk, you could see them reading the postcards as they walked away" – Barney O’Connor, Young Member from Southern Region
Afterwards, it was agreed at the Network meeting that a National Campaign Day of Action would be the next step to grow the campaign with all regions going out to gather signatures and raise awareness in their own areas. If you would like to get involved, please contact melanie.bartlett@gmb.org.uk.
(*Based on the current minimum wage for people aged 16-17)
