UNISON has congratulated Barnsley council after its decision to pay the living wage to its lowest-paid employees.
Earlier this year, as part of a collective agreement with UNISON, the council gave a commitment to undertake a review of the living wage protocol.
The living wage is an hourly wage rate set independently and reviewed annually and is the minimum required to provide a basic standard of living. It is currently set at £7.65 an hour outside London and £.8.80 in London.
There are approximately 335 council employees in roles such as cooks, early years assistants and escorts, and 1,100 employees in schools in roles such as school meals supervisory assistants and teaching assistants who would benefit from the introduction of the living wage.
Council leader Sir Steve Houghton said: “Last year, the council agreed in principle to UNISON’s request to implement the living wage from April 2014.
“Despite the significant financial challenges the council is facing, we are committed to the living wage and have built it in to our budget proposals.”
Barnsley UNISON branch secretary Brian Steele said: “More and more organisations are coming to realise that paying the living wage is the right thing to do.
“We are pleased that Barnsley council is doing the right thing by its lowest-paid staff, despite the massive funding cuts that central government is forcing on the council.
“Research tells us that council workers spend 50p out of every £1 they earn in the local economy, so the living wage will be good news for Barnsley.”
