Greens call for fairer wages

27th July 2009

The Green Party is arguing for fairer wages for council workers. A Living Wage
is already paid to thousands of workers in London and is being implemented in
Glasgow and Leeds. The Greens are asking officers to find what the living wage
would be in Sheffield, calculated as £7.09 per hour outside London but
dependant on the cost of accommodation amongst other things.

Green councillor Bernard Little said, "Research funded by the Joseph Rowntree
Foundation has found that the minimum wage is not enough for many people to
lead a full life, despite working full time. We recognise the difficulties many
employers face at the moment, but our solution would allow for organisations
like the council to improve the lives of many employees without any greater
wage burden.

The changes would benefit the very lowest paid workers, with money coming from
reducing or holding the wages of the highest paid in council. Reducing the
difference between the richest and poorest employees has been shown to have
many benefits.

Bernard Little explained, "Research by health experts has found that a wide
range of health and social problems are caused by a wide gap between rich and
poor, and this inequality harms the wellbeing and happiness of everyone. We are
asking the council to take a lead in Sheffield by reducing the gap between the
richest and poorest employees."

If the Green party motion is successful, council officers will consultthe Centre
for Research in Social Policy at Loughborough University, which calculates the
national level of Living Wage, and trade unions on a suitable minimum income
standard for Sheffield and bring a report to council in three months time
setting out how it could be implemented.

ENDS

References:Living wage in the UK http://www.minimumincomestandard.org/
Economic equality and wellbeing http://www.equalitytrust.org.uk/
Leeds http://www.fairpaynetwork.org/index.php?page=leeds
Glasgow http://www.glasgow.gov.uk/en/News/Archives/2009/March/LivingWage.htm
London http://www.londoncitizens.org.uk/livingwage/index.html

Motion:
That this council:

a) Notes the report by the Centre for Research in Social Policy at Loughborough
University, "Minimum Income Standard 2009", finds that the minimum cost of
living has risen by 5% to April 2009, making it even harder to live on a low
income in the current economic downturn;

b) Believes that the current national minimum wage of £5.73 per hour is not>
enough for individuals or families to have the opportunities and choices
necessary to fully participate in society;

c) Notes that the report recommends a wage of £7.09 per hour outside London
for a single person for them to avoid poverty and that lower housing costs in
Sheffield are likely to mean the level for Sheffield will be lower;

d) Notes that paying a living wage could help reduce staff turnover, reduce
sick leave and improve productivity through the lowest paid staff being more
valued;

e) Notes research by leading epidemiologists, as set out in "The Spirit
Level: Why More Equal Societies Almost Always Do Better", that indicates a
wide range of health and social problems is caused by income inequality and
that such inequality harms the wellbeing and happiness of all people, from
rich to poor;

f) Will, in considering how to implement the living wage, not impose an extra
burden on council tax payers, as those on lowest incomes will be hardest hit,
but will instead explore redistributing salaries through working towards a
flatter wage structure in Council;

g) Hopes that such a move, allowing the lowest paid to receive a greater
income whilst not increasing the overall financial burden upon the council,
will become a model to other large employers in the city and increase the
health, wellbeing, and happiness of those in the city;

h) Notes that Sheffield Council would join a growing number of cities who
have adopted the living wage, including London, Glasgow and Leeds;

i) Directs officers to work with the Centre for Research in Social Policy at
Loughborough University and trade unions on a suitable minimum income
standard for Sheffield and bring a report to council in three months time
setting out how it could be implemented.

.