Overview
- ShareAction launched a campaign urging the biggest grocers to bring staff pay back in line with the voluntary real Living Wage.
- The group said it will target upcoming shareholder meetings to secure clear commitments on wages from retailers.
- The real Living Wage is calculated to cover living costs and is set at £13.45 nationally and £14.80 in London, while the legal minimum for ages 21+ rose to £12.71.
- Tesco, Sainsbury’s, M&S and the Co-op now pay above the legal minimum but no longer match the real Living Wage, as Aldi and Lidl do nationwide, with Aldi paying above the benchmark; John Lewis matches it only for staff inside the M25.
- Supermarkets cite higher operating costs, including increased National Insurance, and note five‑year pay rises of about 42%–43%, while campaigners argue pay that meets living costs can cut turnover and lift productivity for workers and stores.