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As Bristol City Council and University of Bristol this week announce they will become accredited Real Living Wage employers, TUC South West is calling on other employers in the city to step up and pay all their workers a proper and decent living wage.

Unlike the Government’s ‘national living wage’, the Living Wage Foundation calculates an independent ‘real living wage’ based on what working people need to earn to afford basic living costs.

Becoming an accredited real living wage employer means the organisation will ensure all workers, whether directly employed or indirectly through procurement lines or supply chains, will earn the UK Real Living Wage.

This week, the Living Wage Foundation has announced that the UK Real Living Wage will increase by 25p to £9.00 per hour.

Commenting on the news, Nigel Costley, TUC Regional Secretary of the South West said:

“People in work deserve to earn a proper wage – a fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work.”

“It’s great to see the Council and the University is not only going to pay all its workers a decent wage that they can live on, but they shall expect their main contractors to do so too.”

“This will make a huge difference to some of the lowest paid workers in the city.”

Organisations should not outsource responsibility for fair pay.

The South West TUC is asking key employers in and around Bristol to include in their contracts the need to pay workers fairly and gain accreditation from the Living Wage Foundation for doing so.

Nigel Costley added:

“Organisations should not outsource responsibility for fair pay.”

“Cleaners, security and maintenance staff, care workers and other low paid workers are key to the inner workings of the city, but for too long, they’ve been under-valued and expected to cope on minimum wages and welfare benefits.“

“Paying the real Living Wage isn’t just the right thing to do, it’s the smart thing to do. Giving workers a decent rate makes them healthier and happier, reduces turnover and boosts productivity levels.“

“Let’s commit together to make Bristol a real Living Wage City.”

Editors note

The Trades Union Congress (TUC) exists to make the working world a better place for everyone. We bring together more than 5.5 million working people who make up our 49 member unions. We support unions to grow and thrive, and we stand up for everyone who works for a living.

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