CAMPAIGNERS marched through York in a day of action to highlight the need for the Living Wage in the city, and protest against zero hours contracts.

Will Hornett, 20, was one of about 16 people involved in a targeted march by the Socialist Students to places of work in the city operating zero hours contracts, where they spoke to staff about their experiences, before finishing with a mini-rally in St Helen's Square.

"Firstly we wanted to shame the companies, and talk to workers about their contacts and give them information about the Bakers, Food and Allied Workers Union (BFAWU)," said Will.

The BFAWU is a trade union of workers in the food industry.

"People were happy to take leaflets and pass them around, and see that people were willing to go out and fight back against zero hours contacts."

Will added: "I work in a zero hours contact and below the Living Way so I have a personal testimony of why these are bad and why we need serious reform.

The action was part of the 'York Needs a Pay Rise' campaign by the York & District Trades Union Council (TUC).

As part of that, York TUC wants to find out more about wages and contracts of employment, including zero hours through its on-line questionnaire, and will be holding an information stall in York on Saturday.

The Living Wage has just been raised nationally by 20 pence to £7.85.

Ian Craven, campaign officer for the TUC, said it believed 27 per cent of York jobs were in low paid sectors such as retail and leisure, with nearly 5,000 children living in poverty in York, over half of whom are in working families.