Labour-Con coalition vote to deny the Real Living Wage to school caterers
Cllr Jo Bird said, “Kitchen workers in our schools are valuable parts of every school community. Their children also depend on the wages brought in by their parents who are working.
In the cost of living crisis, one of the really basic things we can do with Council owned companies, is to make sure that all workers are paid at least the Real Living Wage. Uplifting to £10.90 per hour would be an increase of 50p per hour compared to job vacancies advertised by Edsential, a Council owned company.
I estimate this would cost the company £300,000 a year. The company’s accounts shows turnover of £18 million. Wirral Council say it is committed to offering the Real Living Wage or above and to the Fair Employment Charter of Liverpool City Region.
At the Council’s Policy and Resources committee, I proposed that Wirral Council ask Edsential to prioritise payment of the Real Living Wage.
But 11 Wirral Labour and Conservative councillors voted against the Real Living Wage for school kitchen workers. Labour Cllrs Paul Stuart (Seacombe), Jean Robinson (Woodchurch), Angela Davies (Leasowe), Tony Jones (New Brighton), Janette Williamson (Liscard), Liz Grey (Bidston St James) and Conservative Cllrs Jeff Green (West Kirby), Leslie Rennie (Wallasey), Helen Cameron (Clatterbridge) and Simon Mountney (West Kirby).
3 Green councillors and a LibDem voted for the Real Living Wage - Cllrs Pat Cleary (Birkenhead & Tranmere), Jo Bird (Bromborough), Harry Gorman (Prenton) and Phil Gilchrist (Eastham).
Voting against the Real Living Wage for school kitchen workers is another disgraceful example of Wirral’s Labour-Con coalition – and a long track record of their broken promises.”
Policy & Resources webcast
Referring to Wirral Council officer’s report into Edsential, a Council owned company, Cllr Jo Bird: The Real Living Wage, which is currently £10.90 an hour, in place of the minimum wage, just adds 1.5% to the cost base - which I kind of work that out around £300,000, or so for the company I don't have the exact figures - and that you say all of these additional costs in totality are currently unsustainable within this business model.
Cllr Paul Stuart: Sorry, I just want to seek some advice on that, you've just actually…
Cllr Jo Bird: I base my estimation on the publicly available accounts for Edsential CIC from Companies House. I'm not referring to the exempt report.
Cllr Paul Stuart: OK. Thank you.
Cllr Jo Bird: Both Wirral Council and Cheshire West and Chester Council have committed to the Real Living Wage and have made that clear publicly and privately. Wirral is also committed to the Fair Employment Charter Liverpool City region, which includes the Real living wage. And we're talking about caterers and cleaners in our schools, and people that are valued part of the school community, and whose children also depend on the livelihood and the wages brought in by their parents who are working.
We talked at full council about the inflation pressures, and cost of living crisis, and one of the really basic things we can do with council owned companies is make sure that the workers are paid at least the Real Living Wage. That would be an increase of 50p an hour compared to what's advertised by Edsential of just under £10.50 ie £10.42 per hour in their public vacancies.
So I'd like to move an amendment, as just circulated, that in addition to these recommendations, that the Council in consultation with the other shareholder, request Edsential to prioritise the payment of the Real Living Wage within the overall benefits package for employees and to present options to the shareholders to this effect in the future. Thanks.
Cllr Paul Stuart: Okay.
Cllr Pat Cleary: I would like to second that Chair.
Cllr Paul Stuart: So, those in favor of the officer’s recommendation as amended by Councillor Bird, and seconded by Pat Cleary, please show hands. Thank you.
11 Wirral Labour and Conservative councillors voted against the Real Living Wage for school cleaners and caterers. Labour Cllrs Paul Stuart (Seacombe), Jean Robinson (Woodchurch), Angela Davies (Leasowe), Tony Jones (New Brighton), Janette Williamson (Liscard), Liz Grey (Bidston St James) and Conservative Cllrs Jeff Green (West Kirby), Leslie Rennie (Wallasey), Helen Cameron (Clatterbridge) and Simon Mountney (West Kirby).
Cllr Paul Stuart: And those against. Thank you.
3 Green councillors and a LibDem voted for the Real Living Wage - Cllrs Pat Cleary (Birkenhead & Tranmere), Jo Bird (Bromborough), Harry Gorman (Prenton) and Phil Gilchrist (Eastham).
Cllr Paul Stuart: So the officers recommendations has been moved by Councillor Jeff Green. I will second that too. Can we have a vote in favour of that please? (11 voted for) And those against. (4 voted against)