Staff at SNP-run airport not being paid a living wage
AFTER becoming a fully accredited ‘living wage’ employer, the Scottish Government was eager to encourage other firms to do the same.
Nicola Sturgeon’s administration has made much of the fact that it is officially recognised for paying all its employees at least £7.85 an hour – £1.15 more than the minimum wage
But now it appears this campaign has yet to reach the state-owned Glasgow Prestwick Airport.
Some 41 staff are still earning less than the living wage – two years after the airport came into public ownership.
John Park, Assistant General Secretary at the Trade Union Community, said: ‘This undermines the Scottish Government commitment to the living wage. You need to do as you say.
‘The Scottish Government needs to ensure people are paid the living wage as a matter of urgency. They should be dealing with this this week.
‘Because they are supporting the living wage they need to lead by example.’
He added: ‘I’m surprised, given the Scottish Government is so vocal about it.’
Scottish Conservative transport spokesman Alex Johnstone said: ‘Given the Scottish Government owns this facility, perhaps it’s not as keen on the living wage as it seems to think.’
The campaign for the UK Living Wage was set up in 2001 by parents in London who were struggling to live despite working two or more minimum wage jobs.
The ‘living wage’ – which is voluntary, unlike the minimum wage – is deemed to be the minimum income necessary for a worker to meet their basic needs.
The concept has since taken hold throughout the UK, with 1,800 employers since 2011 officially signing up with the Living Wage Foundation.
The recommended rates are calculated every year by the Greater London Authority and the Centre for Research in Social Policy at Loughborough University.
Speaking in June this year the First Minister said: ‘The Scottish Government is committed to fairness and supporting those on the lowest incomes.
‘We recognise the real difference the living wage can make to the people of Scotland.
‘The Scottish Government has been paying all of its staff above the level of the living wage for some time.’
Last night a Scottish Government spokesman said ‘substantial progress’ had been made to move the lowest paid staff at the airport onto the living wage.
He said: ‘Currently only 41 of the 298 employees are paid at below the living wage and by April 2016 all the employees of Glasgow Prestwick Airport will be paid at the living wage.’
A spokesman for the airport said: ‘Glasgow Prestick Airport is committed to becoming a living wage employer and steps are currently being undertaken to ensure that by April 2016 all employees are paid at or above the living wage.’
‘SNP should lead by example’