By a Newsnet reporter
The SNP today (Saturday) kicked off the local election campaign with a pledge that every SNP Council will deliver a living wage for all employees.
The commitment at party conference, which mirrors SNP action in the NHS and Scottish Government will see all SNP administrations elected in May put in place the Living Wage for their employees.
According to the Annual Survey of Household Earnings and Public Sector Employment, last year over 20,000 local authority employees in Scotland earn less than the living wage of £7.20 per hour. Of these, 80% are part-time employees.
The commitment to deliver the living wage was passed at the SNP conference at the SECC in Glasgow.
SNP Business Convener and manager of the SNP’s Local Government campaign Derek Mackay said:
“The SNP has delivered a Living Wage for all employees in the Scottish Government and in the NHS.
“We believe it is right that that commitment is spread to all those working in Local Government serving our communities.
“With the commitments made by local authorities this year and this promise from the SNP for the coming years of local government we will be helping up to 20,000 low paid workers across Scotland.
“Over half of local authorities already deliver a living wage or will be from the new financial year. With SNP success in May’s election that commitment, as part of Scotland’s social wage, will be take a step forward. “