The Swindon Labour Group are moving a motion at next Thursday’s Full Council Meeting calling on the Council to pay a living wage for all Council employees. The Swindon Labour Group Deputy Leader, Councillor Mark Dempsey, is moving the motion and Swindon Labour Group Leader, Jim Grant, is seconding the motion.
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The Swindon Labour Group are moving a motion at next Thursday’s Full Council Meeting calling on the Council to pay a living wage for all Council employees. The Swindon Labour Group Deputy Leader, Councillor Mark Dempsey, is moving the motion and Swindon Labour Group Leader, Jim Grant, is seconding the motion.
The Living Wage is currently set independently at £7.45 for everywhere outside of London. A number of predominantly Labour Councils including Birmingham, Liverpool and Lambeth Councils have implemented the Living Wage for their employees and the Conservative London Mayor, Boris Johnson, has implemented the Living Wage for staff who directly work for him in London (the London Living Wage is £8.55).
For further information see- http://www.livingwage.org.uk/
Swindon Council officers claim that there are 165 council employees who would likely benefit from this change. The main job groups affected would be:
Council officers have calculated that this change will cost the Council £115K.
The Swindon Labour Group Deputy Leader, Councillor Mark Dempsey, said: “The Living Wage is an idea whose time has come. It’s a promise of fairness to people who are working hard and doing the right thing that deserve to be paid a wage that provides a basic standard of living.
One in five people are currently living on less than the living wage. People who get up early every morning, spend hours getting to work, who are putting in all the effort they can – but who often don’t get paid enough to look after their families, to heat their homes, feed their kids, care for their elderly relatives and plan for the future.
Growing up I remember all too clearly my mother slaving away as a cleaner on wages of less that £2 per hour and my parents struggling afford the basics in life, and make ends meet until the end of the month. And I remember the Tories opposing the introduction of a minimum wage, leading to their own MP’s calling them the ‘nasty party’.
Instead I believe we should build an economy where everyone has a stake – a One Nation Economy. The Living Wage will help those who work hard can enjoy a decent standard of living; and have the chance of a decent life.
The Living Wage also makes business sense. Swindon Council needs a motivated and committed workforce able to deliver first class services to the public. Businesses that have introduced the Living Wage tell us that it saves them money, in reduced turnover of staff, lower sickness absence, and increased productivity. The Living Wage can help Swindon Council be a great employer and great service provider to the public.
And if Swindon Council can be a beacon to encourage businesses to pay the Living Wage then there is substantial tax-payer benefit. When large companies adopt the Living Wage, thousands of low-paid workers take less tax credits.
Initially we want to deliver this for all Swindon Council workers, however moving forward we plan to roll out the Living Wage to council contractors when contracts come up for renewal.
This is an idea that came from working people themselves; and has gained support from Councils, businesses, and voluntary groups. Boris Johnson has come out in support of the Living Wage imploring Councils to adopt a Living Wage and support low-paid workers.
Swindon Labour believes in fairness and building a One Nation Economy where everyone has a stake. I believe that a Living Wage in Swindon is good for those that work hard, good for business, and good for Swindon. That’s why we are delighted to support the Living Wage and I would urge both Conservative and Liberal Democrat Councillors to do the right thing and support these proposals.”