COUNCIL chiefs have unanimously endorsed a plan for the city council to become an accredited ‘living wage’ employer.
The Labour-led move received the backing of all the parties at the Guildhall during a meeting of the council on October 22.
Coun Lynn Denham, who is also standing as party’s candidate in next month’s General Election, proposed the move which would see companies who have contracts with the council also pay the rate calculated by the Living Wage Foundation to their workers.
The real living wage is currently set at £9 per hour and is determined based on the cost of household goods and services.
Worcester City Council has paid the real living wage to its employees since November 2013 and Coun Denham hoped the move would provide a boost across the city.
“Worcester is a low wage economy, this proposal provides a modest solution for a much bigger problem,” she added.
In a separate motion, Labour also won the support of the council for its bid to encourage city businesses to become fair employers.
City Labour leader Coun Adrian Gregson tabled proposals to see the council work with businesses across Worcester to pay a living wage, offer fair contracts and stable employment and a fair deal for apprentices and those from disadvantaged groups.
“Economic success is key to a healthy life and the more Worcester people who are in work which is fairly paid and where they are positively supported by their employers, the better their life chances and outcomes are,” he said.
Conservative leader Coun Marc Bayliss backed the proposals but asked the wording which read ‘encourage’ membership of trade unions be changed to ‘accept’ union membership.
His requested was accepted by the Labour group and passed unanimously by councillors.
