Liberal Democrats call for ‘living wage’ for council staff paid poverty wages (Twickenham & Richmond Liberal Democrats)

Liberal Democrats call for ‘living wage’ for council staff paid poverty wages

January 22, 2012 11:14 AM

• [Jan 20]: ALL Richmond Council staff should be paid at least the rate of the 'London Living Wage', according to the Liberal Democrats. The London Living Wage is set annually by the Mayor of London as the minimum basic rate of pay that is needed to live in London (currently £8.30 an hour). Liberal Democrat Leader Stephen Knight has tabled a motion at next week's council meeting calling on the Conservative run Council to ensure that no council staff are, "paid on a spinal point lower than the London Living Wage." Whilst the London Living Wage is increased annually by the Mayor of London to take account of rising living costs, the pay rates in local government have been largely frozen for three years. This means that the lowest paid council staff are now paid about 50p an hour less than the London Living Wage.

Cllr Stephen Knight, Leader of the Liberal Democrats on Richmond Council said: "Richmond upon Thames is one of the wealthiest areas of the country with average earnings almost twice the national average. It is therefore unaceptable that any council employees should be paid poverty wages. Thankfully there are very few council staff paid at this very low rate (17 employed directly by the council and another 49 employed at schools), but most are women and part time staff who always seem to get the worst deal. It is time that the council started treating its employees with the dignity they deserve and pay them at least the London Living Wage rate."

Note:

Resolution tabled for 24^th January Council Meeting reads: "Council endorses the Mayor of London's London Living Wage policy, currently £8.30 an hour, and believes this represents the minimum reasonable rate of pay in the Capital. Council notes that after several years of pay freezes in local government, the lowest pay grade (Scale 1) in outer London starts at just £7.75 an hour. Council therefore resolves that no member of staff shall be paid on a spinal point lower than the London Living Wage."

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