Sainsbury’s puts up wages again as retail staff pay battle continues

The supermarket will put up minimum pay for staff outside London to £12 an hour, with wages in the capital rising to £13.15 an hour. About 120,000 are expected to benefit from the increase.

Announcing the pay hike, Sainsbury’s said it had given several increases in recent years and also offered staff free food during shifts. There is also a 15% discount on food for employees every Friday.

Simon Roberts, chief executive, said: “Our colleagues do a brilliant job delivering for our customers every day and at the same time they are continuing to face the rising costs of living.

“So, in addition to investing to keep our prices low for customers, I’m delighted to confirm an industry-leading pay increase again this year for all our hourly paid colleagues.”

Roberts added that for full time staff the increases were ahead of inflation and the government’s 2024 national living wage of £11.44.

Jeremy Hunt, chancellor of the exchequer, said: “It’s great to see Sainsbury’s rewarding hard work with this pay rise for 120,000 employees around the country.”

Bally Auluk, national officer at the Usdaw shopworkers’ union, said : “The continuing strong working relationship between Usdaw and Sainsbury’s has resulted in an inflation-busting pay award of over 9% despite inflation falling and following on from the significant pay increases over the previous couple of years.

“The current cost of living is still on the rise, which is why Usdaw are very pleased the business has taken this on board during our consultations and responded in such a positive manner, which includes continuing to offer free food and additional discounts.”

The Sainsbury’s increase is part of a trend of most major supermarkets putting up wages. Since March last year, Aldi has paid its staff £11.40 an hour outside London and £12.85 inside the capital, while Britain’s biggest grocer, Tesco, has been paying workers £11.02 an hour outside London since April and £11.95 in the capital.