Making Lincoln a Living Wage city
Councillor Ric Metcalfe
Leader
City of Lincoln Council
Lincoln
Against Poverty
#LAPC2015
@lincolnVpoverty
www.lincolnagainstpoverty.co.uk
Poverty & Low Pay
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Poverty usually associated with lack of paid employment
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The majority of households in poverty have at least one of its members in
employment
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Unemployment levels have fallen lately but…….
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Significant problems of under-employment, low pay and insecure conditions including
zero hours contracts
Lincoln
Against Poverty
The Living Wage
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A non statutory pay rate uprated annually against an evidence based calculation of a
minimum standard
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Current rate outside London (£9.15) is £7.85 per hour
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(Legally enforceable National Minimum Wage £6.50 per hour- highest adult rate)
Lincoln
Against Poverty
The Case for the Living Wage
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Benefits to the wider economy
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Good for business
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Savings to the public purse
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Social Justice & social cohesion
Lincoln
Against Poverty
Living Wage - good for the local economy
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“It is a sensible part of economic rebalancing to have sustainable consumption. It is
important that low paid workers are able to play their part as active consumers in our
economy”
(John Cridland DG of the CBI at WEF in Davos)
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“You have got to get money into people’s pockets to continue spending, which then
goes into business”
(Ron Lynch RD of IOD Annual Lunch in Lincolnshire)
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Moves more spending power into the hands of those who actually spend most in the
local economy
Lincoln
Against Poverty
Living Wage good for business
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Evidence to suggest the favourable impact on staff recruitment & retention of staff
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Increased staff motivation, loyalty & reduced sickness levels
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Increasing consumer expectation of ethical behaviour- reputational gains of being a
“good employer”
Lincoln
Against Poverty
Savings to the public purse
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Low pay heavily subsidised by the state through the tax credit and benefit system at
significant cost
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The knock on effects of low income on people’s health and educational attainment
leading to the need for much more costly interventions later
Lincoln
Against Poverty
Social Justice & Social Cohesion
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Is it just that people are not fairly rewarded for their work ?
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The wider impact of huge inequalities in income
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“More equal societies almost always do better”
(Wilkinson & Pickett The Spirit Level 2009 Allen Lane)
Lincoln
Against Poverty
A Living Wage for everyone in Lincoln
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Living Wage forum already established
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The campaign starts today !
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First step to register all those employers paying the living wage
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Please complete the survey form !
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Raising awareness/ making the case/providing practical help & advice to employers
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This is a hugely important part of our anti-poverty work
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Join us !
Lincoln
Against Poverty
Living Wage Accreditation Logo
Lincoln
Against Poverty
#LAPC2015
@lincolnVpoverty
www.lincolnagainstpoverty.co.uk