Read to the end for how trade unions have decided to deal with the new anti-strike legislation, the smart initiative helping people into work in North Wales, and the next blockbuster film about unionised chickens I’m very, very excited about.

Morning team, 

It’s Evie Breese here bringing you my last issue of Working On It before I head to pastures new. It’s been an absolute pleasure to bring you the week’s top employment stories each week, and I’m proud of the part we’ve played in raising the profile of labour journalism here at The Big Issue over the last two years. 

It seems almost serendipitous then, that finally, for the first time in 24 cash-strapped months, wage growth has caught up with rocketing prices. The latest employment data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed that wages, excluding bonuses, were up 7.8%, while July’s inflation rate eased to 6.8%. This means that prices have risen by 6.8% compared to the same month a year ago, but wages have increased by 7.8%.

But will this injection of spending power be enjoyed by all in our economy? This “short-term pay boost” could actually end up benefiting pensioners more than workers, warns Hannah Slaughter, senior economist at the Resolution Foundation. 

While ministers have been keen to stress their commitment to the triple lock pensions guarantee – however costly it may be – they are looking at ways to cut benefits spending. When wage growth was below inflation in June, ministers considered uprating benefits in line with the lower measure, in a drive to reduce benefits spending. With pay growth now outpacing inflation, ministers may still choose the lowest measure next April. 

“[It] would be wholly unfair to hold down working-age benefits, especially as poorer households are already set to see their incomes fall next year,” Slaughter continued, urging the government to uplift benefits in-line with the higher rate of pay growth rather than inflation.

Working On It will be taking a break before returning to your inboxes soon.

What you need to know about work this week:

Sick Britain. Unemployment rates have risen to their highest level for nearly two years, driven by higher numbers of students, as well as the long-term sick reaching yet another record.

Sexist surgeons. Female surgeons are being sexually harassed, assaulted and in some cases raped by colleagues, a major analysis of NHS staff has found. The BBC has spoken to women who say they were sexually assaulted in an operating theatre while surgery took place.

The real win. Spanish FA president Luis Rubiales has resigned, three weeks after he kissed Spain midfielder Jenni Hermoso on the lips without her consent during the World Cup final trophy presentation. English footballer Georgia Stanway has said the win for women’s football has to be “the start of something”.

Pinky promise. Labour’s deputy leader Angela Rayner has made a “cast-iron commitment” to UK trade unions that her party would introduce an employment rights bill within the first 100 days, including banning zero hours contracts and ‘fire and rehire', as well as strengthening sick pay. 

Ready the resistance. Unions have voted to resist contentious new UK anti-strike laws that require a minimum number of employees to maintain minimum service levels. The motion of “non-compliance” was passed almost unanimously, but union leaders stressed this did not mean their members would break the law.

Another highstreet death. More than 12,000 jobs will likely be lost as Wilko announces closure of all 400 branches, the GMB union has said. GMB national officer Nadine Houghton said Wilko should have thrived in a bargain retail sector but it was “run into the ground” by the business owners. 

No new start after all. University staff will return to picket lines for five days of strike action during Freshers week as they continue to push for higher pay and improved working conditions. The University and Colleges Union has cancelled the marking boycott that left thousands of students with ungraded degrees.

 A global solution 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

With Jobcentres increasingly focused on pushing jobseekers into any job while implementing the heavily conditional benefits regime, those who need help navigating the labour market are falling through the cracks.

In Rhyl, North Wales, the local council has brought together existing funding from Westminster and Cardiff, under a single brand – Working Denbighshire – to create a tailor made service that supports people who have struggled the most to get into work. “The people that we support have entrenched challenges. They’re from jobless households of many generations; they have lots and lots of things that they need to overcome before you can put them into work,” says Working Denbighshire’s Mel Evans.

The program tackles each individual’s barriers to work through one-to-one mentoring which can range from coping with crippling social anxiety to the lack of an interview suit, an up-to-date CV or a birth certificate. Read more in this inspiring report from Heather Stewart for The Guardian.

Working culture

Over two decades after its release, Chicken Run is still a revolutionary masterpiece, a brutal take-down of the capitalist society that exploits our very bodies for mass consumption. The Tweedies couldn’t care less about the wellbeing of their workers whose efforts have built them an empire, and yet live as egg-machines in the confines of their prison-like coop. On the discovery that a pie-machine – a chicken pie machine – has been installed on the farm, it’s time to break free. 

Chicken Run is an ode to the power of group organising, the creativity and unity that it takes to overthrow exploitation. With the plucky Ginger at the helm, no chicken gets left behind. 

Will the sequel, Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget, hitting cinemas this December, pack the same plasticine-coated punch? I’m crossing my feathers.

In the diary

Tuesday 19 September. NHS consultants strike for another two-day period.

Wednesday 27 September. Creating a Good Jobs economy, lecture by professor Dani Rodrik, at The Resolution Foundation.

Monday 25 September. University lecturers start a five-day strike with the UCU.

Enjoying this newsletter? Check out Survival Guide, our newsletter on the cost of living crisis from my colleague Isabella McRae. We also have a cost of living help Facebook group with money-saving tips and positive stories.

Animals with jobs 

No matter the temptation in front of you, it’s important to always stay professional. If Jeremy can do it, so can you.

Does your cat/dog/garden fox/animal you saw on holiday participate in the daily grind? Nominate them today by sending me a photo to: evie.breese@bigissue.com

This week's Big Issue magazine

Find your local vendor or sign up for a subscription.