ASDA announced on 4 October that they were increasing their younger workers’ wages to the same level as the older workers. This token gesture shows that ASDA have been forced to admit that young people do the same work as workers over 21 and should therefore be paid the same wage. 

The question is: is it okay to pay younger workers less than older workers for the same amount of work? No way.

The fact that even ASDA (no friend of the worker) is able to undertake this PR initiative at a cost of £1.7 million raises the question why the market leader, Tesco, cannot immediately do the same? Tesco made £1.1 billion profit in the first six months of this year. Surely they can afford to pay their meagre wage without discriminating against young people!

Tesco is not alone in discriminating against young workers. Most employers do the same. They do it because they know they can get away with it. The minimum wage legislation allows them to do it legally, but the real reason that they have been getting away with it is because they think young people will put up with it.

Big businesses like Tesco and ASDA exploit workers of all ages not just through discrimination but in the hours they work, the pressure put on them and the lack of opportunities. The constant market battle for these stores to be top dog means a “race to the bottom” for the workers.

Tesco is a multi-national corporation that has stores throughout England, Wales and Ireland (north and south). This means we need to take a national approach of putting pressure on Tesco wherever they have a store.

Socialist Youth intends to co-ordinate activity with out sister organisation in Britain, International Socialist Resistance, and have protests in England, Wales and Ireland to put the spotlight on Tesco. 

Having information stalls outside Tesco stores, selling stickers for equal pay to shoppers and just speaking to young workers about what is going on, are all ways to embarrass the Tesco management over this shameful practice. If you work in a Tesco or wish to get active against unequal pay in your workplace then contact Socialist Youth’s FightBack! Campaign today.

The FightBack! Campaign calls for:

- Equal Pay for Equal Work.
- £6 an hour as a step to a decent living wage.
- Trade Union rights for all workers.
- Abolish ALL Youth Exemptions.

Socialist Youth are launching a campaign to force Tesco to increase the wages of their young workers to the same wage rates as staff who are over 21.

Why should you be paid less for doing the same amount of work as someone older? If you work in Tesco or anywhere else you get paid less than other workers then contact Socialist Youth to find out what can be done about it:

Belfast phone Paddy - 07876146473

Dublin phone Cillian – 01 6772592

Pizza Express is a major restaurant chain that employs over 6,000 workers in over 320 restaurants throughout the UK. Pizza Express announced profits of £89.2 million last year. Pizza Express is an example of how big business pays young workers scandalously low wages to boost their huge profits.

The Socialist spoke to a young Pizza Express worker in Belfast.

The Socialist – How much were you getting paid in Pizza Express?

Pizza Express Worker - I was getting paid £4.65 an hour and working between 3-4 days a week. The pay in Pizza Express is a lot less than in other places I have worked.

TS – How did you find working in the restaurant?

P.E. Worker – I was under a lot of pressure in there and a couple of times, when I had just started, I was in by myself working very late into the night. The hours we worked were taken down by the manager and after working there a month, they tried not to pay me for some hours I worked.

TS – How would you feel about taking action against Pizza Express over their low pay?

P.E. Worker – I think it would be a good idea to put pressure on them. People like my friend who works in the Youth Apprentice Scheme and only gets paid £40 a week would be interested in this.

I had always felt that Northern Ireland politics were pointless, with the sectarian political parties never dealing with the issues I really cared about.

Socialism taught me that it is capitalism that is to blame for matters such as the discriminatory tiered minimum wage, and the wars for oil with their profit before people standpoint. It was my brother who first told me about the party, he had seen the stall at a make poverty history rally.

I then noticed a poster advertising the Socialist Youth weekend and talked it over with a friend before deciding to go. It was informative and everyone we met was easy to talk to. After attending some meetings we joined Socialist Youth and the Socialist Party.