We need your opinion!

The pupils in the European Section (year 3) study the subject of wages, they need your opinion! This is an Ad made by Unison in the UK, published in the magazine Prospect during the year 2000.

Whoever you are, your opinion on the following document interests us. So please, write to us on our e-mail box euroloq@free.fr

Should She get :	A, - a written warning? B, - her P 45? C, - a pay rise?
The answer is c. Common sense will tell you that the anxiety and stress of living on the poverty line is likely to reduce a person's efficience at work. Poorly paid people are also more likely to be holding down two jobs just to make ends meet. Which can mean they're too tired to do either job really well. They change jobs far more frequently too. And that always brings considerable extra expense to employers. It's hardly surprising then, that research shows even quite modest wage increases more than pay for themselves in improved efficiency. So when people say that the present minimum wage is too low, it's not just an expression of sympathy for people whose earnings are so low that they're entitled to state benefits. It's a matter of economic efficiency. If the minimum wage were raised to just £5 an hour the most likely consequence would not be a reduction in employment. lt would be an increase in productivity, profits, and tax revenues. So, why would any sensible employer, or any sensible government, oppose it? For more information on the National Minimum Wage and other workplace issues, visit our website at www.unison.org.uk, or to join us call 0800 5 97 97 50. Unison