Who we are

The Low Pay Unit was set up in 1974 to campaign for economic and social justice. During its 25 year history, the Unit has campaigned to end low pay and poverty and to make sure that these issues are not neglected or forgotten by the government of the day and other key decision makers.

Considerable progress

The Low Pay Unit has been a vocal and effective campaigner and its work has had a significant impact on the development of recent policies addressing the problems of poor and disadvantaged groups.

But there is plenty more to do……….!

As we enter the new Millennium, the Unit's key campaigning goals are:

• Effective enforcement of significant new employment rights such as the National minimum Wage, the Working Time Regulations and the Working Families Tax Credit
• a commitment to regular and meaningful uprating of the National Minimum Wage level
• Equal pay between men and women
• Reform of the tax and welfare systems to promote fairness, and an end to the poverty trap
• Effective anti-discrimination legislation to ensure fair and equal employment opportunities for all.
• Promoting employability and employment security by campaigning for access to real training opportunities for low paid workers.
• Promoting good employment practices through targeted training courses and seminars and through publicising examples of good employment practice.

The staff of the Low Pay Unit are

Richard Towers - Director
Tim Bickerstaffe - Research Director
Justin Phipps - Employment Rights Officer
Cherry Young - Employment Rights Adviser
Peta Lunberg - Editor (New Review)