In the autumn of 2014 the national Trades Union Congress created their ‘Britain Needs A Pay Rise’ campaign. Since then a series of reports by the Resolution Foundation have shown that the City of Sheffield has the largest proportion of its workforce paid below the National Living Wage (NLW), has suffered the largest pay drop of the UK Core Cities since the onset of the 2008 recession, suffered most from issues of low pay, and consequently (potentially) had the most to gain from the introduction of a National Living Wage.
The Sheffield Needs A Pay Rise (SNAP) campaign, launched in October by John McDonnell MP, Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer, is undertaking some grassroots work to capture the voices of people who are particularly disadvantaged in the labour market in Sheffield, including disabled people. Sheffield Trades Union Council has commissioned researchers from Middlesex and Staffordshire Universities in partnership with Sheffield Hallam University to undertake research to support the SNAP campaign. The research will focus on and seek to capture the experiences of people who are or have been in low paid and insecure employment including zero hours contracts, temporary and part time work. It will also consider the roll out of Universal Credit and the implications of low paid and insecure work on welfare benefits.
SNAP would like to convene a focus group for disabled people to contribute to the research w/c 16th April (date and place to be confirmed but probably the Circle) for approximately 2 hours. Topics will include experiences of pay, hours, work tasks, discrimination, travel to work issues, trade unions, experiences of the benefits system.
If you feel that you would like to take part in the focus group or would like to know more about the research and contribute in any other way please contact:
Pete Thomas, Sheffield Hallam University on 0114 225 6531 or email p.thomas@shu.ac.uk
Bob Jeffery, Sheffield Hallam University on 0114 225 4397 or email r.f.jeffery@shu.ac.uk
David Etherington, Middlesex University or email d.etherington@mdx.ac.uk
In appreciation for participating in the research you will receive a £10 shopping voucher.
