20,000 WORKERS ACROSS GREATER MANCHESTER ARE SET FOR A PAY BOOST AS THE REAL LIVING WAGE INCREASES TO £10.90

The new Living Wage rates and the ‘National Living Wage’ – know the difference
Unlike the Government minimum wage (‘National Living Wage’ for over 23s – £9.50) the real Living Wage is the only wage rate independently calculated based on rising living costs. A full-time worker earning the new, real Living Wage would earn £2,730 a year more than a worker earning the current government minimum (NLW), and £1,950 more than their current pay.

The Living Wage movement continues to grow
Over the past two years the Living Wage movement has continued to grow, with the number of Living Wage employers more than doubling, and major new Living Wage employers announced during that time including Timpsons Locksmiths, Standwalk Ltd and The Growth Company. They join half of the FTSE 100 companies, household names like Aviva, Everton FC, Burberry and Lush as well as thousands of small businesses, who are choosing to pay the real Living Wage to provide workers and families with greater security and stability.

Low pay
There are 4.8m workers paid less than the real Living Wage. Research published last week by the Living Wage Foundation found that over the past 6 months more workers are skipping meals and using food banks than ever before.

Katherine Chapman, Living Wage Foundation Director, said: “With living costs rising so rapidly, millions are facing an awful “heat or eat” choice this winter- that’s why a real Living Wage is more vital than ever. Today’s new rates will provide hundreds of thousands of workers and their families with greater security and stability during these incredibly difficult times.

“We are facing unprecedented challenges with the cost-of-living crisis, but businesses continue to step up and support workers by signing up to the Living Wage in record numbers. We know that the Living Wage is good for employers as well as workers, that’s why the real Living Wage must continue to be at the heart of solutions to tackle the cost-of-living crisis.”

Corin Bell, Director of Open Kitchen, a Living Wage Employer, said: “The cost of living crisis is the worst many workers have experienced and too many families in Manchester are struggling. As a proud Living Wage Employer we will do our bit and staff across our social enterprise can expect a pay rise in line with the real cost of living. We hope this provides inspiration to more employers in our region and beyond to act and ensure their colleagues get a fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work.”

Chris Smallwood, Owner of Anchor Removals, a Living Wage Employer, said: “When I started my business, I wanted to acknowledge the importance of a wage that values people. I wanted to break this mentality that is endemic in my industry that it has to be tough. When I get up in the morning, I can look myself in the mirror knowing all the good things around me are not at the expense of other people, because I’ve paid them well. I’ve seen an employee go from gambling addiction and debt to become debt free and move into a home with his girlfriend at the age of 42. He got on the wrong track in life and just needed an opportunity and at the heart of that was a Living Wage job. Think of the benefit to individuals, but also society, by paying a wage that enables workers to stand on their own two feet.”

Gavin Ryan, a Living Wage worker at Anchor Removals, said: “When I started working for Anchor 10 years ago, the wages were poor and we were struggling. I found it really hard. Our Managing Director Chris changed us to a Living Wage Employer in 2016, as he had always said when we got through the tough times he would look after us and he has. Now, I have stability and job security, and the wages have helped me move out of my mum’s house and into a home with my partner. I can also look after my daughter and buy her the things she needs. During the pandemic, my partner Nic lost her job as a travel consultant and went to work for a supermarket. Her hours and pay were not great, but because I was earning the Living Wage with guaranteed hours, I knew I could support her. It was a life saver.”