Time for West Lothian Council to follow lead for living wage

Mar 12 2009 by Our Correspondent, West Lothian Courier

THE UK Coalition Against Poverty (UK CAP) warmly welcomes the announcement by the Labour led Glasgow City Council to implement a living wage of £7 per hour to any employee presently paid below this level.

By taking this measure the City Council will become the first in Scotland to implement such a policy for lower paid workers.

This much welcome measure will help lift low paid but essential workers such as school cleaners out of poverty.

Labour’s minimum way, tax credits and increased child benefit rates were the first steps in the fight against in-work poverty.

The new living wage is a big step towards the fairer Britain we in the anti-poverty movement hope to achieve.

UK CAP now calls upon all other local authorities in Scotland, such as West Lothian Council, to look seriously into introducing a living wage policy.

Glasgow City Council are leading the way to a fairer wage – West Lothian Council should follow.

Harry Cartmill, National Chairperson, The UK Coalition Against Poverty.