The Daily Mirror reports that British workers have seen an average 4.5% fall in their earnings in real terms (i.e. after taking into account inflation) from 2007 to 2011. This is the worst outcome out of the top 10 developed countries surveyed. It is important that workers here work together in their trade unions to get better pay settlements from employers, so we can have a better standard of living – as our fellow workers in France, Canada and Australia are enjoying.
For all the talk of a Eurozone crisis, France weathered the storm well – and French workers, who have struggled hard to develop strong and effective trade unions, enjoyed an average increase in earnings of 4% over the period in question. Canada and Australia have done even better, with average wage increases over the period of 5.4% and 6.9%.