County council to pay Living Wage


Northumberland County Council has introduced the Living Wage for its staff across the county.


The council made a commitment during budget announcements earlier in the year. Now no employee of Northumberland County Council will be paid less than £7.85 an hour.


The introduction of the Living Wage will result in pay increases for approximately 1,400 county council and school staff, and will be reviewed on an annual basis by the council. Affected staff will now receive an additional amount of between 41p and 79p an hour


Cllr Grant Davey, leader of the county council, said: “It is no secret we are having to make substantial savings as a council. However, ethically and morally the council feels strongly that this is something we should do.


“Through showing our commitment to ethical employment, we are aiming to boost morale as well as the local economy through higher incomes for local people."


www.northumberland.gov.uk/News/2015/Oct/Council-workers-benefit-from-living-wage-pledge.aspx