Around 1,400 staff are in line for a pay rise following Northumberland County Council’s decision to adopt the living wage from this month.
No employee will receive less than £7.85 per hour, with those affected being paid between 41p and 79p an hour extra.
Council leader Grant Davey, said: ‘Our decision to implement a Northumberland living wage is in recognition of the excellent work our employees do ¬– not just for the council, but more importantly for the benefit of the residents of Northumberland.
‘We are living and working in tough economic times and it is no secret we are having to make substantial savings as a council. However, ethically and morally the council feels strongly that this is something we should do.
‘Through showing our commitment to ethical employment, we are aiming to boost morale as well as the local economy through higher incomes for local people.
‘This also means we are ahead of the Government who are introducing the living wage nationally from next year.’
