The Council of Trade Unions’ annual Mood of the Workforce survey, polling over 3,000 workers, found 60% saying their paychecks couldn’t keep up with living costs, rising from nearly 50% last year.
Council of Trade Unions president Sandra Grey said workers are struggling to cope.
“People are saying if their car breaks down, ‘We’re in real trouble; we won’t be able to get to work, and we won’t be able to afford to fix it,'” Grey said.
“People are also saying, ‘I can’t afford decent food for my children’ — so this is really dire.”
Grey expressed “no doubt” that workers are struggling amid the current economic climate, driven by job losses and rising living costs.
The survey also indicated that union members were more likely to get annual pay rises. Among those who received a pay rise last year, nearly 50% were union members, compared to 42% of non-members.
However, the survey also revealed that some workers haven’t seen a pay rise in over five years. Of those, 10% were non-union members, while just over 3% were union members.
Grey said the reality for some workers is that both aspects, affording groceries and providing for their children’s needs, are becoming harder.
“How do you go and pay for your groceries if you haven’t had a pay rise in five years? How do you make sure you can give your kids the shoes and the coats they need when it comes up to winter?” she said.