Yahoo News The poorly paid workers most likely to be denied pay rises
Low-income workers without trade unions are more likely to feel the cost-of-living squeeze than others, an economist has warned.
In recent months the worsening crisis has sparked calls for higher wages after inflation hit 9.1% in the 12 months to May - its highest level in 40 years.
Experts warn this is likely to increase even further in autumn when the new energy price cap is introduced, widely expected to reach almost £3,000 a year.
With many workers at the sharp end of the crisis, trade unions from a number of sectors have called for higher pay and better work conditions amid fears of a summer of unrest.
The progressive think-tank the New Economics Foundation (NEF) has warned that poorly paid, private sector workers who are not unionised will likely feel the inflation pinch the hardest.
"Poor people are usually in sort of non-unionised, less secure jobs," said Dominic Caddick, a researcher at the New Economics Foundation (NEF).
"And they’re going to be the ones that are going to find it the most difficult to secure pay increases."
This month, the RMT, one of the biggest trade unions, went on strike for three days amid disputes over pay, working conditions, and redundancies.
With their demands still not met, the union has said more strikes are on the horizon in the coming weeks.
Caddick warned government rhetoric also risks making it harder for non-unionised workers to receive pay increases.
"If the government is setting the example in the public sector of refusing pay increases for workers, then that’s also going to mean that the private sector will generally follow," said Caddick.
He added: "And therefore people who are stuck in private sector, insecure jobs - who are generally poor -are going to be much worse off than heavily unionised industries that maybe can secure those pay increases."
Boris Johnson has taken a hardline to trade unions this month, insisting public sector pay rises should not go ahead because of rising inflation.
Read more: Government ‘misleading’ over role in rail strikes, legal advice suggests
"When you've got inflationary pressures in an economy, there's no point in having pay rises that just cause further price rises because that just cancels out the benefit," the prime minister said on Sunday.
“I know that people will find that frustrating. but I've got to be realistic with people about where we are.
"I think - I'm pretty certain of this - that our inflationary pressures will abate over time, and things will start to get better.”
A growing number of sectors are now threatening strike action over work conditions - with criminal law barristers striking on Monday over pay and legal aid.
Last week, British Airways staff at Heathrow voted to strike during the summer in the middle of the summer holidays - in part over the company not reversing the 10% wage cuts it made during the pandemic.
Elsewhere, teachers, GPs, and postal staff are also among sectors which are considering strike action.
Watch: Rail strikes: RMT union 'won't hesitate' to take further industrial action as third walkout causes weekend disruption
