News

Citizens UK have just achieved an important success in its campaign to win a Living Wage for low paid workers in the UK. After a community supported campaign led to the removal of a campaigner who cleaned the Deputy prime Minister`s office, the Company (Telereal Trillium) back tracked and agreed a wage rise of 2 GBP an hour. The worker, who received a letter of support from the Deputy Prime Minister, was reinstated in his old role.

The Campaign for a Living Wage is gaining momentum across the UK, supported by all 3 Party Leaders including the Prime Minister. More importantly it has the support of many trade unions in UK who have won similar successes in places like London Metropolitan University and Huddersfield University.

The Campaign is a classic example of alliances between trade unions and communities building up pressure from below to bring about change that benefits low paid families and workers. The Campaign aims to have the rate established in both private sector and public sector work places. Although supported by Government Ministers it has no legislative backing and the Campaign was partly prompted by disappointment with the rates set for the National Minimum Wage.

Similar campaigns have been set up in for example New Zealand who have had their own successes too. All feature the same elements, community leadership, trade union leadership and support, actions to pressurise companies and the clear objective to make a difference for ordinary people.