This Council:
· notes that since 2010 wages have gone down in real terms, whilst prices have continued to rise, which has put increasing financial pressure on many hard working families in Cardiff;
· deplores the Tories’ rebranding of the National Minimum Wage, as the National Living Wage, in an effort to hoodwink people into believing that they are getting a pay rise;
· celebrates that since September 2012 this Labour Council has paid a real Living Wage, as defined by the Living Wage Foundation, to all its employees. In April 2015, we became the first Welsh Council to be an accredited Living Wage Employer, and to encourage all contractors working for the Council to also pay their staff a living wage;
· recognises that many companies and third sector bodies, of all sizes, across Cardiff support their staff by paying a Real Living Wage.
We therefore call on:
1. this Council to promote Cardiff as a Living Wage City by encouraging, and supporting, businesses and charities who wish to take part in the Living Wage Foundation scheme; and
2. the Leader of the Council write to the Labour Welsh Government to explore ways of encouraging other employers across the City to sign up to paying a Real Living Wage.
Proposed by: Councillor Darren Williams
Seconded by: Councillor Heather Joyce