Greens call on Michael Marra to explain Scottish Labour betrayal of young workers
Michael Marra has been urged to explain why his party betrayed young workers and its manifesto by refusing to back the Scottish Greens’ demand to end age-based pay discrimination.
On Tuesday, Scottish Labour MSPs abstained on Scottish Green MSP Iris Duane’s amendment, which called for young workers to receive the same minimum wage as all of their colleagues.
Scottish Labour MSPs also abstained on the final amended motion following the debate on Supporting Young People to Participate in the Labour Market.
It follows Labour Chancellor John Healey’s decision to increase the minimum wage to £13.21 an hour for workers aged 21 and over from April 2027, while those aged 18 to 20 will receive just £11.27 an hour.
In a letter to Michael Marra, Iris Duane urged the Scottish Labour leader to clarify his position and explain why his party has “gone back on its word” and is refusing to support young workers.
Scottish Green MSP Iris Duane said:
“This is an absolutely shameful move from Scottish Labour who must explain why they have chosen to betray workers.
“Scottish Labour MPs were elected on a manifesto in 2024 that promised to remove ‘discriminatory age bands’, but just a few years later they have decided to break that vow.
“Michael Marra should set out why Scottish Labour is falling in line behind the Labour Westminster Government and going backwards on manifesto promises.
“The people of this country were promised a Labour vote would put Scotland at the heart of a UK Government, apparently our young workers are not included in that.
“Young workers deserve better than this. Rent, bills and food are not cheaper for younger people; it's time pay was equalised with those aged 21 and over.
“I’m glad that the Scottish Parliament backed my amendment to call this out and stand up for young people who are being unfairly discriminated against, but Scottish Labour now must set out their position and explain why they shamefully abandoned their manifesto and abstained on this vote.”
TEXT OF LETTER
Dear Michael Marra,
I am writing to follow up from Tuesday’s debate on Supporting Young People to Participate in the Labour Market.
On Tuesday, I had hoped to secure you and your colleagues' support on my amendment to make sure all our young workers are paid fairly. I’m disappointed to see that this was not the case.
Labour was elected on a promise to scrap these discriminatory age bands in the minimum wage. Yet at last week’s UK budget, the UK Labour Government failed to act, announcing that workers aged 18 to 20 will be paid £11.27 an hour, almost £2 less than those aged 21 and over.
An 18-year-old working the same shift, working the same job and facing the same living costs as an older colleague should not be paid less simply because of their age.I would welcome clarification from the Scottish Labour Party on this matter.
Do you still agree that all young workers should be paid fairly, and will you join our calls to the UK Government to scrap age-based minimum wage discrimination?
Young workers were promised better than this. They deserve an explanation as to why Scottish Labour has now decided to go back on its word.
We would welcome the chance to work together, to end this age-based injustice.
Yours sincerely,
Iris Duane