TRADE unions in Wales responded yesterday to the latest Bevan Foundation report that Welsh households will be out of pocket by over £5,000 by the end of 2023.

The Welsh think tank’s State of Wales briefing showed the average Welsh household will need to spend £100 more a week to buy the same goods and services at the end of 2023 as they did in 2021. 

The British Retail Consortium added to the winter gloom as it reported that food inflation has increased to 12.4 per cent as rising energy, animal feed and transport costs force up prices.

Its shop price index showed fresh food inflation rose even higher to 14.3 per cent, driven by the cost of meat, eggs and dairy.

Unison Cymru/Wales regional secretary Dominic MacAskill said: “We are now regularly hearing from public service workers who are afraid to turn their heating on due to sky-rocketing fuel costs.

“They are facing homelessness due to rising rents and turning to food banks because they can no longer afford their essential shopping.

“In the health service, tens of thousands of our members have been balloted for industrial action over pay following the latest derisory offer.”

CWU regional secretary for Wales Gary Watkins explained the Bevan Foundation’s report shows why the union’s fight for a decent pay rise is crucial.

“Nearly 11,000 members in Wales have taken part in strikes since September with a further eight days of action announced by the union in Royal Mail.

“Our members on picket lines have received fantastic support from the public. We are still the voice of working people.

“Workers in Wales need a cost-of-living pay rise and if they are lucky enough to belong to a union, they can win those fights,” Mr Watkins said.

Wales TUC general secretary Shavanah Taj said: “This new report reinforces what we all know and what unions in Wales have been saying for months.

“Workers and their families in Wales are being driven to the edge by this cost-of-living crisis and by the UK government’s failure to support them.

“If politicians and bosses won’t respond to this crisis then they shouldn’t be surprised when workers take action.“ 

davidnicholson@peoples-press.com