A real living wage city

Newcastle City Council is hosting the gathering at the Civic Centre on Tuesday, November 7, after it announced its intention to work with local employers to make Newcastle a Real Living Wage city.

In 2022 the authority became an Accredited Living Wage Council and now wants to go one further by creating a city where every employer pays the Real Living Wage.

The Real Living Wage Foundation recently announced the new rate outside of London will be £12 per hour which the council will implement alongside its national pay agreement. Real Living Wage Week runs from November 6 to 12.

Cabinet member for Resources, Cllr Paul Frew, said: “In Newcastle we have 169 accredited employers covering more than 31,000 employees. This ranges from large employers like the Council, the mental health trust, Newcastle University, and Newcastle Building Society to small businesses and charities across the city.

“With a growing set of partners committed to this cause, we want to launch an action plan to increase the number of people benefiting from a Real Living Wage in Newcastle. 

“Ultimately, we aim to set the standard for employment in this city. We aim to eradicate low pay by making the Real Living Wage the default and Newcastle a Real Living Wage city.”

The event takes place from 4pm-5pm and can be attended via this link https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/celebrating-living-wage-week-in-newcastle-upon-tyne-tickets-732807576187

Employers will hear a range of speakers explain the benefits of paying a real living wage and the support that is on offer.

To drive forward the campaign, the Newcastle Action Group consisting of a range of employers has been set up to:

• Increase the number of accredited employers in Newcastle
• Understand the Living Wage landscape of the city
• Celebrate Real Living Wage employers

To try and gain city-wide status, the Action Group will work with the Living Wage Foundation and Citizens UK to deliver a three-year action plan aimed at making the Real Living Wage the norm in the city.

Cllr Frew continued: “This policy recognises the hard work that our employees contribute to our city as key workers. Work that they have done throughout austerity, throughout Covid-19, and throughout the ongoing cost-of-living crisis. 

“It reduces the gender pay gap, in which Newcastle is nationally outstanding, and workers who are paid enough to meet their family’s needs are less stressed, healthier, happier, and more productive, I urge every employer to take this to heart.”

In November 2022, Newcastle City Council gained Living Wage Accreditation from Living Wage Foundation as part of its commitment to fair pay and a decent wage.

Not only is it committed to paying all its staff at least a Real Living Wage but is using its position to influence its many contractors to apply the Real Living Wage through its tender process or via negotiation. 

On October 24 the Living Wage Foundation announced that the Real Living Wage would rise to £12 per hour. Accredited employers have until May 1 2024 to implement this.

Child poverty in the North East is currently 37.9%.