Only Wirral Green Cllrs support the Real Living Wage
Cllr Jo Bird proposed a progress report on the Real Living Wage being paid to all workers delivering Council services, at Wirral Council’s Policy & Resources committee on 6 June.
She said, “The cost of living crises is already being felt by thousands of Wirral residents and workers. As the days get colder towards Autumn, even more people on the Wirral will have to choose between eating and heating.
One in four Wirral residents are in the bottom 10% of household income for England [according to the Department for Levelling Up. Prices are going up by 9% and rising.
Energy bills are going up and one in six people suffer from in-work poverty.
One of the simplest actions Wirral Council could take to reduce in-work poverty is to ensure all its workers and service providers are paid at least the Real Living Wage. Its currently £9.90 an hour.
On the Wirral, all Party leaders agreed the Real Living Wage for care workers in April 2020. So more than two years later, it is bit disappointing to read that budget outturn 21-22 report that for Adult Care: “The outturn reflects some slippage against providers yet to sign up to the Real Living Wage fee rates agreed at [Adults] Committee on 7th June 2021”
As we know, the budget is already there [to pay care workers the Real Living Wage]. It wouldn’t affect the budget. Its already been provided for but hasn’t been implemented by providers of care.
The report to Adults Committee last June, shows 42% of Wirral care home residents are cared for by people paid less than the Real Living Wage. [and 75% reported in March this year.] What’s more, Real Living Wage for frontline care workers should not be the end of it.”
Cllr Janette Williamson, leader of the Council, interrupted, “Jo we’re not here for the night. Can you just get to your point of your amendment please. I mean, can I just say, I’m not prepared to have the committee that I chair used in this way by you. So if you just want to get to the actual nub of your amendment rather than give us background which we’re all aware of.”
Cllr Jo Bird continued, “So, every worker delivering services for Wirral Council should be paid at least the Real Living Wage. Its £9.90 an hour. 23 other principal local authorities [in England] pay that and are accredited by the Real Living Wage Foundation.
This committee, Policy & Resources, last considered the issue in March last year. It was estimated the additional cost uplift cost for all Council employees, and contractors, would cost between £0.6m and £1.2m.”
Cllr Janette Williamson, interrupted again, “OK, right.”
Cllr Jo Bird said, “And it was “Resolved that a further report will be submitted to the Policy and Resources Committee”. Given the cost of living crisis…
Cllr Janette Williamson, interrupted for the third time, “Yes, we’ve had all that Jo. You’ve had your five minutes.”
Cllr Jo Bird, “I have not had five minutes. We should move progress on this issue, through this amendment. The amendment does not propose to change the budget. The amendment is simply that A further report be submitted to Policy & Resources Committee, by its first meeting in September, regarding the Real Living Wage being paid to all workers delivering Council services.”
Cllr Janette Williamson first invites Paul Satoor to speak. Wirral’s Chief Executive is paid around £180,000 per year.
Several senior Wirral Councillors spent 20 minutes talking about not having a progress report on the Real Living Wage.
Apart from Cllr Pat Cleary, Leader of the Green Group, who said, “Well, we’ve had a few things clarified. Shaer, the Director of Resources, has clarified that we had a report on the Real Living Wage. We were promised another report on the Real Living Wage, that we haven’t had. So its entirely reasonable to raise the issue [heckling]. Its entirely reasonable to raise that, particularly at a time when people are struggling. Its just been highlighted in the difficulties that we have heard about in the adult care market.
Now I’m really disappointed in the way some people have responded to this. Tom, I think it was at the last P&R meeting, you hijacked the community asset transfer debate, to bring in an amendment about Brackenwood [golf course] on the night. Now with all due respect to the leader, you didn’t lay into Tom when he did that. So I’m really disappointed at the tone. [interruption] Can I finish? You’re welcome to come back in when I’ve finished.
But I’m really disappointed at the tone, at the way that this has been handled. It’s a perfectly reasonable request which members are perfectly reasonably entitled to reject if they don’t want it to come forward. But all that we are asking for, is the report that we were promised, that would detail what the cost to the authority would be if we were to pay the Real Living Wage to everybody who is employed delivering council services. Its not an unreasonable request. Its perfectly reasonable. What is unreasonable is the way that some people have responded to that. Its entirely unnecessary. By all means vote down the amendment if you don’t like it.
But please treat it [Real Living Wage] with the respect it deserves. Its an important issue, which is important to highlight. To get what we were promised in the past is a perfectly reasonable to ask.”
Cllr Jo Bird asks to respond to question and issues put to her. Cllr Janette Williamson refuses.
Cllr Jo Bird observes, “I think that’s bullying actually, and I would like to...”
But Cllr Janette Williamson, interrupts again saying, “Moving to the vote. Jo, you’ve had enough chance to put your argument forward. You’ve spoken enough. We’re going to move to the vote.
All those in favour of the amendment. Please raise your hand. [Green Councillors Jo Bird and Pat Cleary vote for.]
All those against [All Labour, Conservative and LibDem councillors vote against a report regarding the Real Living Wage].
OK. 2 in favour, 13 against.”
Watch short video and read Wirral Green Party press release.
Watch entire committee webcast from 46 minutes in.