Member Article

Salford on way to becoming Living Wage city

Salford is “becoming” a Living Wage city since seven public sector organisations have agreed to pay a minimum of £7.45.

The city’s council announced it is now accredited for Living Wage last week, and 1,200 council staff are set to benefit from the change in Salford.

City Mayor Ian Stewart introduced the Living Wage earlier in 2013, and on 4th July Assistant Mayor for workforce relations, Cllr Paul Dennett, announced the council’s official accreditation to provide the minimum hourly wage to meet the cost of living in Salford.

The seven employers who will provide the Living Wage are: The University of Salford, Salix Homes, City West Housing Trust, Salford Community Leisure, Together Housing Trust, Helping Hands and Great Places Housing Group.

The changes are expected to benefit more than 2,000 people in Salford, and each of the seven organisations explained why they are supporting the scheme for their staff.

City Mayor Ian Stewart said: “No one in Salford should be earning below £7.45 an hour. We must campaign for the cause of fairness, decent pay and putting money in people’s pockets and purses which will boost our local economy in austerity.

“We’ve made an excellent start to becoming the first Living Wage city in the country by bringing these key public sector organisations on board. Now I want to see private companies and third sector organisations also sign up to help end poverty pay in Salford.

Trade union leaders welcomed the announcement including TUC North West Regional Secretary, Lynn Collins.

Ms Collins said: “Salford must be warmly congratulated for taking such significant steps towards becoming a Living Wage city.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Miranda Dobson .