There is growing support for UNISON’s living wage campaign for workers at Solihull Council, with the Liberal Democrats and Green Party joining Labour councillors in their pledge for a Solihull living wage.
If successful, a living wage will mean all staff employed at Solihull Council will not receive less than £7.45 an hour – a figure based on research by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation and now adopted by councils across the West Midlands, including Birmingham, Wolverhampton and Coventry.
“We are delighted that three out of four of the main political parties have signed up to our living wage campaign and there is fast developing a consensus of support for low-paid working people,” said UNISON Solihull branch secretary David Williams.
“UNISON believes that workers in Solihull Council deserve the respect of a living wage, but the current administration, led by Councillor Ken Messon, is delaying a decision on a small increase to £6.45 per hour, which is just above the minimum wage, until the council’s renumeration committee meeting in December”.
Mr Williams added that the “Conservatives are using their old argument of job loss to prevent implementation of the living wage. However, we recall this being used many years ago by the Conservatives then trying to stifle the introduction of a minimum wage, but its only effect was to lift families out of poverty.
“UNISON welcomes any increase in salaries, but recognises that in today’s climate, we need to do more by adopting a living wage and, in doing so, Solihull Council will be helping its low-paid workers to become less reliant on benefit top-ups to make ends meet”.
