Shareholder payouts ‘rising seven times faster than wages’

European companies have paid inflation-busting dividends to shareholders while workers struggling to cope with the cost of living crisis are told they can’t have a decent pay rise, the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) has said. 


According to its research, payouts to shareholders increased by 28.6% across much of Europe during the second quarter of this year, more than seven times faster than the rate at which wages are rising across the European Union.


ETUC deputy general secretary Esther Lynch commented: “These figures will be difficult to believe for millions of working people struggling with the cost of living crisis. It’s clear that, once again, there’s one rule for the rich and another for the poor.


“Workers are being told this isn’t the time for a pay rise while shareholders are popping the champagne corks to celebrate inflation-busting payouts.”


https://www.etuc.org/en/pressrelease/shareholder-payouts-rising-7-times-faster-wages