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    TUC: Night workers in the North West deserve better pay and conditions

    Saturday, 24 October 2020 06:00

    As the clocks go back tonight (Saturday) to mark the beginning of winter, the TUC is calling for better pay and conditions for night-workers – including the 231,000 key workers who regularly work nights in the North West.

    New analysis published by the union body reveals that 1 in 3 (35%) night-workers in the UK earn less than £10 an hour. This is despite the heightened health risks that come with night work and the disruption it causes to workers’ lives.  
    Key workers 
    The analysis also shows that key workers (231,000) account for more than half of the North West’s 424,000 night-workers. 
    Key workers are twice as likely to work overnight than other workers. 
    Low-paid and insecure 
    The TUC says that many key workers who keep vital services going overnight are undervalued and often employed on low pay and insecure contracts.
    Care workers are more likely to work night shifts than other profession. But many earn less than £10 an hour and are on zero-hours contracts.  
    The union body says the government must use its long-awaited employment bill to “level up” conditions for workers in this sector starting with banning zero-hours contracts. 
    Health impact of night work 
    As well as being bad for family life, the health risks of regular night work include cardiovascular disease, diabetes and depression. 
    The TUC is calling for a number of measures to protect and compensate night workers. These include:  
    • Pay to properly reflect the likely additional costs of childcare and inconvenience that night shifts can entail. 
    • New legislation to ensure that workers always have sufficient notice of their shift patterns so they can make arrangements well in advance.  
    • Compensation for shift changes at short notice. 
    TUC Regional Secretary Lynn Collins said: “Working through the night is tough – especially in the middle of a global pandemic.  
    “We all owe night workers in our region a huge debt for keeping services running while we are asleep. 
    “It is not right that so many of those who work overnight – especially in key sectors like care – are on low pay and insecure contracts. 
    “The government must ensure that all night workers are treated with dignity at work. That means levelling up working conditions and pay and ensuring people are given proper notice of their shifts. 
    “And it means honouring the promise to increase the minimum wage that would benefit over two million key workers.” 
    Top 10 occupations for night workers 
    Profession 
    Number 
    Caring Personal Services 
    406,000
    Nursing and Midwifery Professionals 
    245,000 
    Protective Service Occupations 
    194,000 
    Road Transport Drivers 
    186,000 
    Other Elementary Services Occupations 
    162,000 
    Health Professionals 
    116,000
    Elementary Security Occupations 
    89,000
    Sales Assistants and Retail Cashiers 
    88,000 
    Artistic, Literary and Media Occupations 
    81,000 
    Elementary Storage Occupations 
    76,000 
    Managers and Proprietors in Hospitality and Leisure Services 
    74,000 
    Source: ONS Labour Force Survey, Apr-Jun 20, Usual to work at night  
    Night workers by UK region/nation 
     
    Region/nation 
    Number of night workers 
    Number of key workers doing night shifts 
    % of night workers who are key workers 
    North East 
    201,000
    100,000
    50% 
     
    North West 
    424,000
    231,000
    54% 
     
    Yorkshire and Humberside 
    306,000
    183,000
    60% 
     
    East Midlands 
    267,000
    133,000
    50% 
     
    West Midlands 
    285,000
    136,000
    48% 
     
    East of England 
    293,000
    150,000
    51% 
     
    London 
    415,000
    180,000
    44% 
     
    South East 
    417,000
    218,000
    52% 
     
    South West 
    259,000
    137,000
    53% 
     
    Wales 
    169,000
    97,000
    57% 
     
    UK 
    3,410,000
    1,764,000
    52% 
     
                     
    Source: Source: ONS Labour Force Survey, Apr-Jun 20, Usual to work at night

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