UNISON welcomes living wage at South East Water

UNISON has welcomed the news that South East Water is now an accredited living wage employer.

This move comes after campaigning by the union, and the company says that this means that “everyone, regardless of whether they are permanent employees or third-party contractors and suppliers, will receive a minimum hourly wage of £7.85 – significantly higher than the national minimum wage of £6.50”.

In London, the company was already paying staff at the Greater London Authority the living wage as a result of previous UNISON pay claims and negotiations.

UNISON South East regional organiser Caroline Fife welcomed the move, adding: “We are delighted to see South East Water become the first water company to sign up to the Living Wage.

“We asked for this during pay claim negotiations and are pleased to see the company has taken this step.”

The living wage is an hourly rate set independently by the Living Wage Foundation and updated each November.

It is calculated on the basic cost of living, using the ‘minimum income standard’ for the UK – based on what members of the public think is enough money to live on, and to maintain a socially-acceptable quality of life.

UNISON campaign for a living wage

UNISON in the water, environment and transport industries