Sainsbury’s gives store staff 4pc pay rise

SAINSBURY’S is to increase wages by 4pc for its 137,000 supermarket staff from this weekend.

As a result, the new hourly rate of £7.36 an hour from August 30 will affect 97pc of people working in stores, such as check-out workers and shelf-stackers.

The supermarket chain said the 4pc rise was the highest increase it had awarded to shop staff in more than a decade.

The new wage comes ahead of the Government’s recently announced National Living Wage of £7.20 for workers over the age of 25 by April 2016.

Chancellor George Osborne praised the retailer, saying: “Britain deserves a pay rise... today’s announcement from Sainsbury’s... is fantastic news and a real vote of confidence in the UK economy.”

Prior to the Chancellor setting out the national living wage in July’s emergency Budget, Sainsbury’s chief executive Mike Coupe said he could not commit to paying the living wage as calculated by the Living Wage Foundation. The independent body was pressing for an average £7.85 in the UK and £9.15 in London.