Glasgow catering staff to benefit from new living wage

Catering staff in Glasgow could be set for a boost in wages after the council’s leader vowed to introduce a Glasgow Living Wage of £7 an hour.

The living wage will be guaranteed as a minimum for all Glasgow City Council employees, and will increase the basic salary of the lowest paid workers by over £1,100 a year. The council will also urge it suppliers to adopt the living wage.

Speaking at last weekend’s Scottish Labour Party conference, council leader Steven Purcell said: “It is absolutely unacceptable that almost one in five of Glasgow's workers are paid less than £7 an hour, and the Glasgow Living Wage has the potential to make a huge difference to thousands of families across the city.

"Through our procurement policy, we will work with employers in the public, private and voluntary sectors to encourage them to pay low-paid workers a decent wage, potentially affecting up to 80,000 people.”

Glasgow is currently in the process of converting Direct and Care Services, which provides school dinners and cleaning services, into a Limited Liability Partnership (LLP).

As an LLP, the new entity, called Cordia, will operate at arms length from local government with far more commercial freedom.

However, it is thought likely that the Glasgow Living Wage would be adopted by Cordia – even though it is not a legal requirement - potentially leaving 400 staff better off.

Glasgow City Council is the first Scottish local authority to adopt a living wage and follows in the footsteps of London.

Last May, Harrison Catering Services signed up to the London Living Wage through its relationship with the Borough of Ealing, where it provides the primary school dinners service.

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By Chris Druce

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