Labour councillors get Tory-controlled council to pay the living wage

Last week Labour councillors in Kingston upon Thames were successful in ensuring that the council pay the London living wage.

The council is Conservative-controlled and the constituencies that fall within its bounds include Richmond Park and North Kingston where Conservative Mayoral candidate Zac Goldsmith is the MP. Of the 48 councillors 2 – Linsey Cottington and Sheila Griffin – are Labour.

In January Cottington and Griffin proposed that the council implement the living wage. Last week this was approved by the policy and finance committee. It will result in 35 low-paid staff getting an increase in pay to £9.15 as of April 2016.

One of the councillors who brought forward these proposals argued that it was a step in the right direction:

“The council can now go out to all Kingston employers, encouraging them to ensure all their staff are also paid a living wage so they can properly support their families.”