"It's not about making ends meet – it’s about a decent standard of living, having a life"
(Steven, Retail Sector, Edinburgh)
Low pay remains a very real problem across the UK and for hundreds of thousands of workers in Scotland. In response to the problem, a number of living wage campaigns have developed across the UK. Rather than demanding further legislative change, these campaigns have brought demands for a ‘living wage’ directly to employers (both in the public and private sector).
Living Wage campaigns have won real changes, in Scotland and in London, and have drawn strength from the involvement of grassroots anti-poverty activists, trade unionists, faith based groups, voluntary organisations, migrants groups, students and low paid workers. The campaign in Scotland will build on the same diverse groups to build the case for a decent living wage for all workers.
The Living Wage In Scotland
The Living Wage has gathered increasing prominence in Scotland mainly in the public sector. Since 2008 an increasing number of low paid workers have benefited from the Scottish Living Wage. The Labour Party, SNP and Greens opted to support the Living Wage to differing degrees in their manifestos for the 2011 Scottish Parliament elections.
- Glasgow City Council
- Scottish Borders
- South Lanarkshire
- West Dunbartonshire
- North Ayrshire
- Dumfries and Galloway
- East Renfrewshire
This has generally been as a result of local negotiation as there is currently no requirement that local authorities should pay the Living Wage. The SLWC estimate that around 15,000 workers in the public sector have benefited from the adoption of Living Wage policies.
A Freedom of Information request reveals that there are around 18,000 directly employed staff in local government who earn less than £7.20. There has been limited progress in Scotland in including the Living Wage in public sector procurement – a key lever for ensuring that workers in the private and voluntary sectors benefit from the Living Wage. The campaign estimates that there are around 350,000 workers in Scotland paid less than the Living Wage.