North Ayrshire – a living wage employer

UNISON welcomes accreditation for latest Scottish council

UNISON campaigning for a living wage graphic

UNISON has welcomed news that North Ayrshire council is now an accredited living wage employer, the latest of a number of Scottish local authorities.

Although the council itself has paid its staff the living wage since 2011, the formal accreditation also means that all council suppliers will be encouraged to pay their staff the living wage, which could benefit more than 500 private-sector workers.

Welcoming the move, UNISON North Ayrshire branch secretary Louise McDaid commented: ““It is good for workers who benefit from higher pay, improved health and job motivation.

“It is also good for employers, because it reduces turnover, improves productivity and attracts better staff through reputational gain, not to mention the wider community gains through cash going into the local economy, lower benefit costs and less stress on the NHS.”