Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Greens call for 'living wage' for all agency staff
Green councillors have called for all agency staff working for Brighton and Hove City Council to be paid a living wage of at least £7 an hour. “Any less just isn't enough to maintain a decent standard of living in this city," said Ben Duncan, Green City Councillor for Queen's Park. "Recent figures showed that more than 1,100 council staff were paid less than £7 an hour - mostly agency staff and cleaners."
Cllr Duncan made his comments after a council meeting discussed handing responsibility for the pay and conditions of agency staff from councillors to the Head of Personnel. "I'm sure the council's Head of HR will do an excellent job - but this sort of decision really must be taken by councillors with a democratic mandate."
Cllr Duncan, who hopes to be elected Green Party MP for Brighton Kemptown at the next General Election, added:
"It's a false economy for the council to use agency staff on low wages and with poor working conditions. Not only do people forced to endure this sort of work have a higher reliance on benefits and council services to help make ends meet, they enjoy less training and job security, which quite naturally means they're less committed to the job - and are more likely to quit if they get a better offer elsewhere."
For more infomation about Ben Duncan view:
greenkemptownben.blogspot.com/
For more information about the Greens view:
www.brightonandhovegreenparty.org.uk
