Increased wages for low paid staff welcomed
CAITHNESS labour councillors have welcomed a move by The Highland Council which will ensure its lowest paid employees will receive an increase in wages next Spring.
The Finance, Housing and Resources Committee agreed to introduce the Scottish Living Wage by applying a living wage supplement to all employees currently paid less than £7.20 per hour to bring them up to £7.20 per hour from April 2013.
The move is expected to benefit around 600 council staff who are currently paid £7.20, with 90 percent of those set to receive an increase being female and an estimated 15 apprentices.
Caithness Labour councillors said that it was one of the policies it insisted on when it joined the council coalition and it came from the manifesto they put together.
Wick councillor Neil Macdonald said that he welcomed the move saying that it would help improve the standard of living for low paid workers.
He said: “As an active trades union representative, its something I very much support and I’m pleased the council has moved on our manifesto commitment so soon.”
Read more in Wednesday’s Caithness Courier.