Notts: Council becomes one of the first to start paying the Living Wage

The introduction of the Living Wage has been designed to benefit employees – many of whom are part-time, female workers – in a range of frontline jobs such as caring for older people, cooking school meals, helping school children cross the road safely and cleaning classrooms.

In common with the majority of local authorities, pay, terms and conditions for the County Council’s centrally-employed staff are negotiated through a national agreement.

Wages have increased by just one per cent since 2009.

Prior to the implementation of the Living Wage, the lowest paid County Council workers received £6.45 per hour.

As well as helping to recruit and retain staff, it is hoped that the increased minimum rate of pay will have wider benefits for the Notts economy.

Council leader Coun Alan Rhodes, said; “In recent years, Local Government pay has increasingly lagged behind inflation, increasing bills and the rising cost of living.

“As well as making sound business and economic sense, we believe that paying the Living wage is morally the right thing to do and we hope that more Notts employers will follow suit.”