Over 450 Councillors back Ed’s call for a Living Wage
Over 450 Labour councillors are supporting the call to implement the Living Wage nationwide.
An article in The Mirror today reports that the councillors have signed a letter endorsing Ed’s campaign for the Living Wage because “it is the best way of giving dignity to those in work.”
The letter states both the moral and business case for implementing the Living Wage, which takes into account higher living costs in cities. Signatories include councillors whose have lead action on the Living Wage, including Cllr Matthew Brown (Preston) who spearheaded Preston becoming a Living Wage employer, Cllr Matthew Pennycook (Greenwich) the former Head of Campaigns at the Fair Pay Network, Gary Doolan the Chair of Islington Labour Group and GMB exec member, and Jim McMahon, the Leader of Oldham Labour Group.
Ed was delighted with the response. He said:
“I put the campaign for a living wage at the heart of my campaign to be leader of our party because I want employers to pay a decent day’s wage for a decent day’s work.
“The support of 400 councillors shows that people from across our party are committed to making that change happen.”
The letter and full list of councillors supporting the campaign is shown below.
At the weekend, Ed Miliband outlined in the Observer how he would incentivise companies to pay the Living Wage by giving them substantial tax cuts.
Research for our campaign by the Institute for Fiscal Studies shows that companies paying below the Living Wage effectively cost the taxpayer between £5.9bn and £6.3bn a year — because low-paid employees can top up their income with tax credits and benefits, while the Treasury also receives less in tax revenue from those on low pay.
And as an incentive for companies to pay a fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work, Ed is proposing that firms which implement the Living Wage would be eligible for lower rates of Corporation Tax. If companies take up the idea, the heavy cost to taxpayers of subsidising the low-paid could be reduced by between £3.4bn and £4.1bn a year.
The letter:
Dear Sir,
With the coalition government set on jeopardising the anti-poverty gains made under the last government, it will increasingly fall to Labour councils to show what tackling poverty should look like.
It is no great mystery why 57% of children living in poverty do so despite having at least one member of their household in work. Endemic low pay and working poverty continue to blight the lives of millions of ordinary working people across Britain.
Paying a Living Wage is one solution to the problems of working poverty and a means of moving away from a labour market defined by a large number of low-paid jobs.
Labour Councils have led the way, with local authorities including Camden, Ealing, Glasgow, Greenwich, Hackney, Islington, Lambeth, Lewisham, Oxford, Preston, Southwark, Tower Hamlets and Waltham Forest already moving towards becoming Living Wage employers.
These and other pioneering Labour Groups have taken up the Living Wage not only because of the concept’s moral force and the dignity it provides to those in work, but because of the strong economic case underlying it – increased productivity, lower staff turnover, fewer sick days taken by staff and the benefits that flow to local businesses when low-paid workers have more income to spend on the necessities of life.
Many will question whether implementing the Living Wage is possible in the context of the coalition’s deep cuts to the public sector. There is no doubt it will be a long and hard journey. But we feel that making a commitment to getting there is not only a moral imperative but an essential step in tackling Britain’s low pay culture and the poverty that too often accompanies it.
Signed:
Ed Miliband
Matthew Pennycook Greenwich, former Head of Campaigns at the Fair Pay Network Matthew Brown Preston, spearheaded Preston becoming a Living Wage employer Bernard Priest Manchester, spearheaded paying the ‘Manchester Minimum Wage’ to council employers (£1.01 above the minimum wage) Gary Doolan Islington, Leader of the Labour Group Jim Jim McMahon Oldham, Leader of the Labour Group Neil Cooney Aberdeen Len Ironside Aberdeen William Chorlton Anglesey Richard Jones Anglesey Tariq Saeed Barking & Dagenham Hardial Singh Rai Barking & Dagenham Sam Tarry Barking & Dagenham Jeffrey Wade Barking & Dagenham John White Barking & Dagenham Manzoor Hussain Barking & Dagenham Barry Poulton Barking and Dagenham Anne Hutton Barnet Andrew McNeil Barnet Ansuya Sodha Barnet Claire Farrier Barnet Robin Franklin Barnsley Penelope Lofts Barnsley Alan Gardiner Barnsley Richard Wraith Barnsley Anita Husband Barrow in Furness Bob Pointer Barrow in Furness Colin Thomson Barrow in Furness Phil Rackley Basildon Andrew McCormick Basingstoke and Deane David Potts Bassetlaw John Scott Bassetlaw Alan Deadman Bexley Brenda Langstead Bexley Margaret O’Neill Bexley Andy Kay Blackburn with Darwen Eileen Entwistle Blackburn with Darwen Brian Doherty Blackpool Hazel Ward Bolsover Keith Bowman Bolsover Dennis Kelly Bolsover Keith Bowman Bolsover Eion Watts Bolsover Nick Peel Bolton Kevin McKeon Bolton Edward Taylor Bournemouth Vanda Greenwood Bradford Steve Pullen Bradford David Warburton Bradford Lynne Smith Bradford M. Nazam Azam Bradford James Denselow Brent Jayesh Mistry Brent Ruth Moher Brent Janice Long Brent Mike Le-Surf Brentwood Philip White Bridgend Mark Brain Bristol Faruk Choudhury Bristol Simon Crew Bristol Brenda Hugill Bristol Douglas Wilcockson Broxtowe Elizabeth Monk Burnley D. Michael Gray Caerphilly Keith Reynolds Caerphilly Helen Rivron Calderdale Robert Dryden Cambridge Meric Apak Camden Sararh Hayward Camden Heather Johnson Camden Phil Jones Camden Tulip Siddiq Camden Sue Vincent Camden Dave Horan Camden Mike Katz Camden Samata Khatoon Camden Michael Desmond Camden Roger Robinson Camden Abdul Quadir Camden Theo Blackwell Camden Mike Katz Camden Michael Boaden Carlisle Jessica Riddle Carlisle Reg Watson Carlisle David Wilson Carlisle Anthony W. Jones Carmarthenshire Steve Lloyd-Janes Carmarthenshire Deb Green Charnwood Patrick Youell Charnwood Graeme Smith Charnwood Les Sibley Cherwell District and Bicester Town Laura Lennox Chorley Tim Young Colchester Deion Smith Conwy Paul Whalley Copeland John Bowman Copeland Paul Whalley Copeland Michael Arthur McveighDoe Copeland Bryan Massie Corby Geraint Thomas Crawley Peter Lamb Crawley David Shreeves Crawley Brenda Smith Crawley Borough Council and West Sussex County Council Shafi Khan Croydon Mark Watson Croydon George Ayres Croydon Mark Watson Croydon Mike Hawkins Cumbria Roderick Francis Darlington Colin Hughes Denbighshire Robin Turner Derby Janet Turner Derby Alan Charles Derbyshire Saxon Spence Devon Barry Johnson Doncaster Eva Hughes Doncaster Mick Jameson Doncaster Craig Sahman Doncaster Andrew Bosmans Doncaster Marilyn Green Doncaster Kevin Rodgers Doncaster Ros Jones Doncaster Bill Mordue Doncaster Austen White Doncaster Sandra Holland Doncaster Archie Dryburgh Dumfries and Galloway Mik Sabiers Ealing Atallah Said Ealing Chris Summers Ealing Andrew McIntyre East Ayrshire Maureen McKay East Ayrshire William Menzies East Ayrshire Neil McGhee East Ayrshire Alan Lafferty East Renfrewshire Mary Montague East Renfrewshire Eddie Phillips East Renfrewshire Elaine Green East Renfrewshire Pat Neil East Riding of Yorkshire Jayne Buckland Enfield Yasemin Brett Enfield Andreas Constantinides Enfield christiana During Enfield Sheila Carlson Epsom & Ewell Dilys Baldwin Exeter Tony Wardle Exeter Hilda Sterry Exeter Greg Sheldon Exeter Neil Crooks Fife Alex Rowley Fife Mark Hood Fife Peter Curtis Flintshire Cindy Hinds Flintshire Aaron Shotton Flintshire John Eagle Gateshead Mary Smith Gloucester Jagir Kaur Sekhon OBE Greenwich John Fahy Greenwich Miranda Williams Greenwich Daniel Stevens Hackney Tom Ebbutt Hackney Michelle Gregory Hackney Wendy Mitchell Hackney Partick Vernon Hackney Alex Russell Hackney Sharon Patrick Hackney Ian Rathbone Hackney Saleem. M. Siddiqui Hackney Caroline Needham Hammersmith & Fulham Mercy Umeh Hammersmith & Fulham Joseph Ejiofor Haringey Sheila Peacock Haringey Rahman Khan Haringey Ian Campbell Haringey Edna Stevens Harlow Jean Clark Harlow Krishna James Harrow Krishna Suresh Harrow Drew Gale Harrow Sasikala Suresh Harrow Bruce Dowling Hastings John Hodges Hastings Bruce Dowling Hastings Alan Roberts Hastings Jay Kramer Hastings Anthony Mckeown High Peak Fraser Parr Highland June Nelson Hillingdon Avtar Singh Sandhu Hillingdon Jason Ellar Hounslow Sue Sampson Hounslow Peta Vaught Hounslow Corinna Smart Hounslow Rilba Jones Hull City Martin Mancey Hull City Alasdair Ross Ipswich John Legrys Ipswich Philip Smart Ipswich John LeGrys Ipswich Raphael Andrews Islington Theresa Debono Islington Andy Hull Islington James Murray Islington Paul Smith Islington Richard Watts Islington Charlynne Pullen Islington Barry Edwards Islington Judith Blakeman Kensington and Chelsea Emma Dent Coad Kensington and Chelsea Robert Atkinson Kensington and Chelsea Pat Mason Kensington and Chelsea Todd Foreman Kensington and Chelsea Alan Clark Kingston upon Hull David Gemmell Kingston upon Hull Peter O’Neill Kirklees Molly Walton Kirklees Barbara Jones Kirklees Ronald Round Knowlsey Allan Harvey Knowlsey Tony Cunningham Knowlsey Kenneth McGlashan Knowlsey Kevin Ellard Lancashire Carl Crompton Lancashire Ciaran Wells Lancashire Javaid Akhtar Leeds Bernard Atha Leeds Mark Dobson Leeds Jane Dowson Leeds Ted Hanley Leeds Josephine Jarosz Leeds Alison Lowe Leeds Ronald Grahame Leeds Lucinda Yeadon Leeds Virginia Cleaver Leicester Manish Sood Leicester Manish Sood Leicester Colin Marriott Leicester Paul Westley Leicester Deepal Bajaj Leicester Shofiqul Chowdhury Leicester Bettyn Newton Leicestershire Chris Best Lewisham Paul Bell Lewisham Kevin Bonavia Lewisham Pauline Morrison Lewisham Gary Hewson Lincoln Kev Clarke Lincolnshire Barbara Murray Liverpool Jacqui Nasuh Liverpool Ann O’byrne Liverpool Steve Munby Liverpool Nick Small Liverpool James Noakes Liverpool Gerard Woodhouse Liverpool Malcolm Kennedy Liverpool Ann O’byrne Liverpool Lakhbir Singh Luton Mahmood Hussain Luton Naeem Ul Hassan Manchester Ken Barnes Manchester Anna Trotman Manchester Suzanne Richards Manchester Michael Colley Mansfield Julia Yemm Mansfield Paul Godwin Medway John Dehaney Merton David Chung Merton Len Junier Middlesbrough Anthony Easson Monmouthshire Ronald Higginson Monmouthshire Felix Fenning N W Leicestershire Maureen Lowson Newcastle upon Tyne Michael Burke Newcastle upon Tyne Joyce McCarty Newcastle upon Tyne David Cook Newcastle upon Tyne John Collinson North Lincolnshire Steve Swift North Lincolnshire Michael Grant North Lincolnshire Debbie Stone North Somerset David McGarr North Tyneside David Corkey North Tyneside Maureen Madden North Tyneside Brian Marshall North Yorkshire Tess Scott Northampton Valerie Tyler Northumberland Paul Foster Northumberland James Lang Northumberland Ken Parry Northumberland Margaret Richards Northumberland Mohammad Aslam Nottingham Eunice Campbell Nottingham Dave Liversidge Nottingham Malcolm Wood Nottingham Darrell Pulk Nottinghamshire Alan Rhodes Nottinghamshire Shoab Akhtar Oldham Hugh Mcdonald Oldham Ateeque Ur-Rehman Oldham Michael Boaden Oldham Gerald Ball Oldham Javid Iqbal Oldham Steven Bashforth Oldham Barbara Dawson Oldham Fida Hussain Oldham Joy Wrigglesworth Oldham David Hibbert Oldham Bernard Judge Oldham Jean Stretton Oldham John Tanner Oxford Susanna Pressel Oxford Roy Darke Oxford Gill Sanders Oxford Antonia Bance Oxford Beverley Hazell Oxford Dee Sinclair Oxford Joe McManners Oxford Mary Clarkson Oxford Mary Clarkson Oxford Sarah Hutchinson Oxfordshire Richard Stevens Oxfordshire Javed Iqbal Preston Robert Boswell Preston Tom Burns Preston Martyn Rawlinson Preston Dave Wilson Preston Albert Richardson Preston Ian Beckett Preston Frank De Molfetta Preston Drew Gale Preston Brian Rollo Preston John Swindells Preston Peter Rankin Preston Jonathan Saksena Preston Paul Gittings Reading Deborah Edwards Reading Betty Tickner Reading Graeme Hoskin Reading John Ennis Reading Dev Sharma Redbridge Ross Hatfull Redbridge Richard Rudland Redcar & Cleveland Jim Harte Renfrewshire Eddie Grady Renfrewshire Simon Lloyd Rhondda Cynon Taf County John Watts Rhondda Cynon Taff Adam Fox Rhondda Cynon Taff Mark Norris Rhondda Cynon Taff John David Rhondda Cynon Taff Albert Davies Rhondda Cynon Taff Robert McDonald Rhondda Cynon Taff Jonathan Burns Rochdale Amanda Robertson Rossendale John Foden Rotherham Barry Kaye Rotherham John Francis Swift Rotherham Jahangir Akhtar Rotherham Iain StJohn Rotherham Brian Steele Rotherham Jahangir Akhtar Rotherham Hilda Jack Rotherham Dave Pickering Rotherham Alan Buckley Rotherham Sheila Walker Rotherham John Watkins Rushmoor Mike Roberts Rushmoor Roger Jones Salford Howard Balkind Salford Norbert Potter Salford Christine Hudson Salford Jim King Salford Paul Tweed Sefton Anthony Carr Sefton Robert Brennan Sefton 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