MP wields a mop for the low-paid

MICHAEL MEACHER mops up at the poolside at Oldham Sports Centre

MICHAEL MEACHER has shown his support for Unison members by spending a day as a cleaner at Oldham Sports Centre.

The Oldham West MP accepted the task to show how strongly he feels about low pay.

With inflation at 3.8 per cent and the cost of living spiralling, Unison members say they are struggling to make ends meet.

Although the minimum wage was increased by 21/2 per cent recently, Mr Meacher believes it should go up by much more, increasing from £6.50 an hour to £7.50.

Mr Meacher said: “I feel people on low pay need help. There is no doubt that cleaners, caretakers, catering staff and other low-paid workers are finding it extremely difficult to manage their budgets.

“I do basic cleaning tasks at home, and for the past two days I have been throwing out rubbish and getting up to the ceiling to do some dusting.

“But coming to the sports centre is a lot more serious.

“I am sure the new chief executive of Oldham Council, Charlie Parker, is a most able man but he will be given a 35 per cent pay increase, which takes its salary from £140,000 to £175,000 a year — about £3,500 a week.

“But Unison members are only getting a 2 per cent pay increase. Where is the logic in that? We are talking about people in Mr Parker’s employment who are being paid around £200 a week. That is scandalous.”

Frank Hont, Unison NW Regional Secretary said: “Politicians and employers have had a lot to say about why they think local government workers shouldn’t be given more than a 2.45 per cent rise, yet only three out of 76 North-West MPs responded to our challenge to swap jobs with one of our members.

“We are pleased Mr Meacher agreed to work at Oldham Sports Centre and hope this will make him appreciate how hard our members work and why they recently took strike action in response to a pay offer of 2.45 per cent.”