UNISON is ramping up the campaigning for a living wage ahead of Living Wage Week next week (4-10 November).
“The call for a living wage is having a real impact in this time of cuts and austerity,” says Karen Jennings, assistant general secretary for bargaining and equality.
“There are campaigns starting every week at different employers and in towns and cities, often in coalition with students and community groups.
“We have a long and proud history of backing living wages and UNISON wants the living standards of our members to be at the forefront of Living Wage Week.”
The week will feature:
- UNISON’s pay seminar;
- a parliamentary event on securing a living wage in further and higher education;
- UNISON oral evidence to the Low Pay Commisison presented by Ms Jennings,;
- pushing for pension funds to use their investment power to get FTSE100 companies to pay a living wage, at a Fair Pensions event in the City;
- a Northern TUC conference on wages, poverty and payday loans;
- the launch of UNISON’s response to the Procurement Bill, currently before the Scottish Parliament with a call for the Scottish living Wage to be included;
- A reception at the Scottish parliament, hosted by Scottish Living Wage Campaign which includes UNISON;
- a consultation on a proposed Living Wage (Scotland)Bill, launched by John Park MSP.
The UNISON NEC meeting on 17 October agreed to step up the union’s living wage campaigns in the public, private and voluntary sectors.
Living wage campaign update – report to October’s NEC [pdf file] http://www.unison.org.uk/Acrobat/E8183.pdf
