Burnley Council in wage boost bid (From Lancashire Telegraph)
When news happens, text LT and your photos and videos to 80360. Or contact us by email or phone.
Burnley Council in wage boost bid
11:30am Tuesday 12th February 2013 in News
BURNLEY Council is looking at the possibility of becoming a Living Wage employer to ensure its lowest-paid staff are paid enough to meet the basic costs of living.
The council’s executive will discuss the proposals at its meeting on February 18.
The Living Wage is currently set at £7.45 per hour outside London and is reviewed annually.
Unlike the national minimum wage of £6.19 per hour, the Living Wage is a voluntary undertaking.
Coun Mark Townsend, the executive member for resources and performance management, said: “No-one should have to do a hard day’s work for less than they can live on. We realise times are tight for everyone and we all have to make sacrifices.
“However, that doesn’t mean that Burnley Council, as a responsible employer, shouldn’t take the lead in looking at ways of making sure its lowest paid staff are receiving a reasonable wage.
“We have to make sure the council’s lowest hourly rate is enough for staff and their families to meet the basic cost of living.”
The council employs around 500 staff. A total of 17 temporary or permanent staff, mainly clea-ners, currently earn less than the Living Wage.
A further 29 casual workers would also see their pay packets increase. The cost of moving to a Living Wage is estimated at around £10,000 to the council and would be met from within planned budgets.
Council staff have seen their wages frozen since 2009.
Comments are closed on this article.
Comments (6)
1:19pm Tue 12 Feb 13
rumblesteveskin says...
Does Steve Rumbelow really deserve 10 times more pay? does he really do 10 times more work? I'm sure Cartledge doesnt deserve to get £69,404 more than anyone.
2:05pm Tue 12 Feb 13
midas says...
2:32pm Tue 12 Feb 13
rumblesteveskin says...
"A rather simplistic way of comparing worth, I'm suprised you haven't worked out how many hospitals we could build or how many nurses we could employ!"
and your's is a rather obtuse comment, please do expand.
2:58pm Tue 12 Feb 13
midas says...
.
Whats ten times more work? does he do 10 x the amount of hours? No but does his work generate 10 times more income than the person on the minimum wage? Probably.
.
What is his worth to the organisation in comparison to that of the minimum wage employee?
.
Should a football player be paid more than the minimum wage and if so, why?
7:01pm Tue 12 Feb 13
liddle 'un says...
11:14am Wed 13 Feb 13
midas says...