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Businesses and trade unions in the West have today signed a groundbreaking agreement in support of paying the Living Wages to employees in Bristol, Bath, Gloucestershire and Swindon.

TUC general secretary Frances O'Grady and Phil Smith, Managing Director of Business West, put their names to a joint declaration urging employers to pay their staff at least the Living Wage of £7.45.

Phil Smith said: "Business West is an organisation whose purpose in life is to promote Bristol and its environs as a driving city. Bristol has a reputation as a city with good employers, good companies and with a good workforce, and we think the Living Wage is part of that. 

"There's a squeeze on wages at the moment, and although the economy is picking up, it's not yet reflected in people's pockets so anything we can do to encourage our members to think about what they pay their workforce has to be good."

Frances O'Grady said: "It's fantastic that we have employers and unions recognising the way to get out of this economic mess is by giving people a decent standard of living, dignity at work and by tackling low pay so they have money in their pockets to spend in local shops and businesses."

Nigel Costley, Regional Secretary of the South West TUC, said: "We've had a long-standing, constructive relationship with Business West and we're pleased to be joining forces to support the idea of the Living Wage."

The agreement, which was signed on board SS Great Britain – an active Living Wage supporter – forms a part of activities around Living Wage Week in Bristol. On Monday,Living Wage for Bristol supporters will be meeting outside of City Hall at 5pm to welcome the new Living Wage rate and show the level of support the Living Wage has in Bristol.

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The Living Wage Agreement reads

Business West Chambers of Commerce represents and works with over 16,000 businesses in Bristol and the South West. It is keen to promote responsible business, with the highest standards of employment, offering worthwhile careers, skills development and decent pay and conditions and welcomes a constructive engagement with trade unions and the TUC.

The South West TUC is the federation covering unions in the region and over 500,000 members. It is one of the founding partners of Bristol Chamber of Commerce and Initiative and welcomes a positive relationship with employers.

Business West and the South West TUC want to encourage a more positive approach to fair pay. We want the West of England to be known for its good employers, decent work and the place to bring strong careers. To that end we support the following:

* economic development to support sustainable growth based on promoting higher paid jobs

* promotion of skills development and ways to break down barriers to learning for all

* rigorous enforcement of the National Minimum Wage

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