York at forefront of campaign to boost wages for workers

A COALITION of leading businesses in one of the north of England’s most affluent cities has been formed in an attempt to boost salaries in the biggest drive outside of London to counter low wages.
By The Newsroom
Published 5th Nov 2013, 00:01 BST

York has been named as the first city outside of the capital to witness such a concerted effort to introduce the Living Wage for workers as part of a national campaign to increase basic salaries and counter poverty among the most poorly paid.

The Living Wage Foundation yesterday announced the next wave of UK organisations that have been officially accredited as Living Wage employers in the past year, with York at the forefront of the campaign. Among the employers which have pledged to introduce the Living Wage for staff are York Council, the Joseph Rowntree Foundation and Housing Trust, York CVS and the York Citizens’ Advice Bureau.

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The organisations have linked with York-based insurance firm Aviva, which already pays the Living Wage, to form a coalition to bring more of the city’s employers on board. The latest wave of accreditations means more than 700 employees in York will benefit from the current Living Wage rate and their employers made a commitment to future increases.

The Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Rachel Reeves, who is the Labour MP for Leeds West, said: “Making this commitment, when budgets and services are under such pressure, offers practical help to people who are struggling with the cost of living crisis at the same time as strengthening local economies and communities.”

The campaign to introduce the Living Wage, which is calculated according to the basic cost of living in the UK, has gathered momentum in recent years as the number of financially-stricken households has dramatically increased amid the ongoing economic slump.

The hourly rate is set independently and updated annually and employers adopt the Living Wage voluntarily. The campaign has enjoyed cross-party support, with backing from Prime Minister David Cameron and the Leader of the Opposition and Labour MP for Doncaster North, Ed Miliband. The Living Wage for workers outside of London is currently £7.65 per hour, while in London the rate is set at £8.80 per hour.

Related topics:YorkLondonEnglandAvivaDavid CameronEd MilibandLabour