Scottish Low Pay Unit

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[edit] Scottish Low Pay Unit

The Scottish Low Pay Unit (SLPU) is an independent not-for-profit organisation dedicated to campaigning for fairness at work. In addition to its research and campaigning activities, the SLPU provides employment rights advice for workers across Scotland through a telephone helpline.

Employment Rights Advice

The Employment Rights Advice Line (0845 6023802) is available during the following hours: Wednesday 9.30 – 13.00, Thursday 9.30 – 5.00 and Friday 9.30 – 5.00.

This local-rate help line is available for all Scottish workers facing problems at work; advisers can help with issues such as the National Minimum Wage, sick pay / leave, maternity and paternity pay / leave, parental and emergency leave, holidays and annual leave, redundancy and dismissal, discrimination (on the grounds of race, religion, gender, disability, age or sexual orientation), TUPE, working time and breaks, rights for children at work and many other areas.

Leaflets covering many of these subjects are available from the SLPU website: http://www.slpu.org.uk/employment_rights.htm The leaflets are updated once a year and so may not always include all of the relevant information; workers with specific problems are advised to call the Employment Rights Advice Line.

A variety of leaflets and an Employment Rights Pack are also available in hard copy, free of charge to workers.

Other Services

The Scottish Low Pay Unit produces research and policy documents on pay and employment rights issues. These are generally available free of charge to affiliates and for a small fee to others. Commissioned research for outside bodies is also undertaken.

Research staff provide an information service for those interested in research and policy, for example journalists, academics, policy makers and trade unionists. Information on benchmark pay rates is also available to employers as part of this service.

The SLPU also delivers employment rights training throughout Scotland; custom training courses can be delivered on request.

Information on all of these services can be obtained from SLPU staff on the general office number, 0141 3376819, from Monday to Friday, 9.30 – 5.00.

Background information

The Scottish Low Pay Unit was formed in 1989. It aims to: Maximise the income of low paid workers by campaigning for improved wages, benefits etc.; protect income sources for low paid workers in the longer term by promoting greater job security based on individual legal rights and collective organisation; tackle poverty and inequality based on discrimination and promote equality within employment, training and economic development and promote greater work-life balance in Scotland and family friendly environments for people on low incomes.