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YOUNG workers at a Sheffield restaurant have won a 44 per cent pay rise after a citywide trade union campaign targeted the company.
The South Yorkshire city’s trades union council (TUC) joined forces with the Bakers, Food and Allied Workers Union (BFAWU) in 2019 to launch the Sheffield Needs a Pay Rise campaign and appointed a full-time organiser for the city.
The campaign targets low-pay employers across Sheffield for union recruitment and wage increases.
The latest firm to co-operate is Cutlery Works food hall, which is located in a former cutlery factory.
Although union recognition has yet to be won, the company has agreed to introduce the real living wage for its mainly young staff and to abolish zero-hours contracts.
Sheffield TUC secretary Martin Mayer said: “Most workers at Cutlery Works are aged 18-20 and were on the bare legal minimum wage for this age bracket of £6.83 per hour.
“Following our campaign, the Cutlery Works has agreed to become a real living wage employer and pay all workers £9.90 per hour. That’s an increase of 44 per cent.
“The workers also demanded regular guaranteed hours and an end to zero-hours contracts. This was agreed too.
“We’ve just proved yet again that workers in low-paid jobs can join a union and win big improvements to their pay and conditions.
“This will really set the pace for workers across our notoriously poorly paid hospitality and fast-food sector in Sheffield.”
Discussions are continuing with the company to secure a formal union recognition agreement.
