27.04.15
Cornwall Council funds living wage with pay freeze for higher earning staff
Cornwall Council is to become a living wage employer as it increases the pay of its lowest paid workers from minimum wage to £7.85 an hour.
The council is funding the increase for 1,800 of its lowest-paid workers, which began this month, by instituting a pay freeze for other staff until 2017.
The living wage is based on the amount an individual needs to earn to cover basic costs of living, about £15,000 per year.
Roles set to receiving raise include administrative and clerical assistants, caretakers, cleaners, cooks, drivers and domestics.
The council's leader, Independent John Pollard, said: "We're just pleased to do it because it sets an example, a minimum standard.
"It means that in Cornwall Council, no matter what you do, you're paid [at least] £15,000 a year and that's important."
Gill Allen, Unison branch secretary, said: "Our members have borne the brunt of the public sector cuts with many losing their jobs and others suffering reductions in pay. For once this is positive news and many of our members will be going to work this morning with a smile on their face."
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