William Eichler 06 November 2024

Mayor urges employers to embrace living wage

Mayor urges employers to embrace living wage image
Image: © Living Wage Foundation.

North East Mayor Kim McGuinness has urged employers to embrace the real living wage as part of the region’s fight against child poverty and low pay.

Speaking at a Living Wage Week event in North Shields, the mayor welcomed the new living wage rates, which will provide 9,500 low paid workers a pay rise by May 2025.

The mayor called on public sector employers, schools and colleges to lead by example by paying the living wage.

She also set out an ambition to make the North East a ‘Living Wage Region’, citing Sunderland City Council and Newcastle City Council as examples of living wage employers.

‘Put simply, there is a moral imperative to make the North East a living wage region,’ she said.

‘Obviously the Combined Authority I lead is fully behind the Living Wage goal. We pay the Living Wage, our new organisation will be accredited as such, and we work with our providers as much as possible to encourage them to as well.

‘But we know we have to go further, working with the Living Wage Foundation to bring households out of hardship.

‘The public sector obviously has a role to play in setting an example. That’s why I’m proud to back the call for our region’s schools and colleges to sign up to the Living Wage campaign.’

SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Director of Public Health

Royal Borough of Greenwich
Up to £131,210
The Public Health department is at the heart of the council’s business. Greenwich, London (Greater)
Recuriter: Royal Borough of Greenwich

Head of Regeneration and Growth

Plymouth City Council
£68,387 - £74,411 (MFS and relocation available, pay award pending)
This is a unique opportunity to lead our award-winning development team and directly deliver hundreds of millions of pounds of projects. Plymouth, Devon
Recuriter: Plymouth City Council

Director of Adult Social Care

Wiltshire Council
£119,390 - £127,137
Join us as the Director of Adult Social Care and make a real difference to people’s lives. Wiltshire
Recuriter: Wiltshire Council

Assistant Director Planning, Performance & Engagement

East Sussex County Council
up to £97,700
With strong local communities, unspoilt countryside and vibrant coastal towns, East Sussex offers an exceptional quality of life to many. East Sussex
Recuriter: East Sussex County Council

Director of Finance & Commerce

Lancashire County Council
Up to £114,339
You will play a critical role in driving the organisation through complex change and innovation. Lancashire
Recuriter: Lancashire County Council
Linkedin Banner