Time to end Brighton's poverty wages
22 April 2008
Thousands of Brighton and Hove residents are living on 'poverty wages', according to Green councillors, who are calling for a 'living wage' of £7 an hour to be the minimum paid in the city.
Queen's Park councillor Ben Duncan (pictured below) has called on fellow councillors of all parties to agree that the national minimum wage - currently just £5.52 an hour - should be increased to a more realistic rate of £7 an hour.
He says it is a 'poverty wage' in a city with some of the highest accommodation and living costs in the country.
Cllr Duncan, who will also contest the Brighton Kemptown seat for the Greens at the next General Election, said:
"Life is getting harder all the time for the poorest in this city, with the credit crunch biting and the Government putting up taxes for those on the lowest incomes.
"Just last week The Argus reported that average living costs in Brighton and Hove have risen by about £250 a month.
"It would take someone on minimum wage more than 45 hours to earn that.
"Of course the council has no power over how much private employers pay their staff, but we can send out a clear moral signal that paying less than £7 an hour is unacceptable in this city in 2008."
Councillors will debate Cllr Duncan's motion (reproduced in full below) on Thursday.
Notes to editors:
Media: for more information please contact Lizzie Deane Green Party External Communications Coordinator on 07931 231390.Council notice of Motion: Living wage for Brighton and Hove
Brighton and Hove has some of the highest accommodation and living costs in the country, yet some of the lowest wages.
This council believes that the national minimum wage of, currently, £5.52 an hour, is insufficient remuneration for workers, and their families, who live in Brighton and Hove.
This council notes that several trade union and community organisations recognise that a minimum wage of at least £7 an hour in necessary to make ends meet and escape poverty.
This council therefore supports the principle of a ‘living wage’ for Brighton and Hove of £7 an hour.
Proposed by: Cllr Ben Duncan
Seconded by: Cllr Keith Taylor
[ENDS]
