Fight for £15 an hour – with no age exemptions
By a Scottish PCS member
Starmer’s Labour government’s plan to raise the minimum wage to £12.21 an hour for workers over the age of 21 in April 2025 has been met with horror by elements of the right wing press, however these measures still fall short of what is necessary to tackle the crisis of low pay.
Young workers will still be stuck on £10 an hour, and apprentices on just £7.75. With prices for food, rent, and energy soaring, these measures come anywhere near to solving the cost of living crisis.
Whilst the SNP have criticised Labour’s minimum wage proposals, calling for the removal of youth rates, their proposals also fall short of what is necessary. Their own proposals are to implement the real living wage of 12.60 for all adults still massively falls short of the £15 being demanded by various trade unions. This includes Unison in Scottish local government, where the £15 demand has been opposed bitterly by the SNP government.
The rich are getting richer while workers struggle to make ends meet. The Sunday Times Rich List shows that Britain’s 350 wealthiest people now own over £750 billion. Meanwhile, energy giants like Shell and BP made £22 billion in profits in 2023, while millions of us faced sky-high bills.
The capitalist class say there’s no money to pay workers more—but that’s a lie. Big corporations rake in billions and hand it out to shareholders, while wages stay low and public services are cut to the bone. Studies carried out by Unions such as Unite has shown that corporate profits, and not high wages, has been the biggest contributing factor to inflation in recent years.
£15 now
Every worker, no matter their age, should be paid at least £15 an hour—now. Wages must rise with the cost of living so that no worker is left behind. Benefits and pensions should cover basic living costs.
The NHS, local councils, and public services must be fully funded to undo 15 years of cuts. We need massive investment in council housing, hospitals, and schools to create millions of good jobs.
The TUC, which supports the demand for a £15 an hour minimum wage, should organise action nationally to demand Starmer’s Labour implement these measures.
take back what’s ours
How can such a programme be paid for? By taking back the wealth that workers create. It’s time to nationalise the banks, energy companies, and big corporations—put them under workers’ control. No more fat profits for CEOs and shareholders while we struggle to make ends meet.
The money is there. The rich won’t give it up willingly—we have to fight for it. Unions, workers, and communities must stand together and demand real, socialist change.
