Workers at breaking point over pay, TUC warns

The "longest wage compression since Napoleonic times" has near UK families astatine breaking point, the caput of the Trades Union Congress volition accidental later.

Workers are facing 2 decades with nary existent wage growth, Frances O'Grady volition archer the TUC league successful Brighton.

Prices person risen faster than wages since the fiscal situation successful 2008.

There was a "moral and economical statement for making definite people's wage packets astatine slightest support up with inflation", she told the BBC.

"The system has go skewed," said Ms O'Grady, speaking to the BBC's Today programme, up of the conference.

"Shareholder dividends person been rising much, overmuch faster portion existent wage has been falling.

"We request radical to person wealth successful their pockets to walk successful pubs section shops to support our High Streets open."

The national umbrella assemblage estimates that existent wages - which instrumentality rising prices into relationship - volition not instrumentality to their 2008 level until 2028.

That would mean a further nonaccomplishment successful existent presumption of £4,000, connected average, implicit the adjacent 3 years arsenic a effect of terms rises outstripping wage growth.

The TUC calculates that the mean idiosyncratic volition person mislaid a full of £24,000 successful existent net since the 2008 fiscal clang arsenic a effect of wage not keeping gait with inflation.

Ms O'Grady, who is stepping down aft astir a decennary arsenic TUC wide secretary, said the government's policies had caused "mess and damage" affecting livelihoods, mortgages and household bills.

Public assemblage unit were leaving "in droves" due to the fact that of mediocre wage rates, she added.

In her code later, Ms O'Grady volition pass the authorities not to spell up with plans that would marque it harder for unions to organise onslaught action.

"If ministers transverse the roadworthy to prime a combat with america past we volition conscionable them halfway... we volition spot you successful court," she volition say.

There has already been a question of onslaught enactment affecting postal, connection and obstruction services. Barristers and dockworkers person besides been connected strike. Workers successful wellness and acquisition are being balloted implicit action.

The authorities has projected requiring unions to enactment wage offers to a subordinate ballot earlier calling a strike. It besides aims to guarantee transport companies support a minimum level of work during concern action.

New rules connected allowing employers to prosecute bureau workers during strikes person already been passed.