This Living Wage Week, Glasgow Life is celebrating becoming an accredited Living Wage employer. Their Living Wage commitment will see everyone working at Glasgow Life, including regular workers employed through third-party suppliers receive the real Living Wage. This rate is higher than the government minimum.
Glasgow Life is a charity and key employer in the city that aims to improve lives through culture and sport. They operate iconic venues such as The Burrell Collection, The Mitchell Library, Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Tollcross International Swim Centre and Scotstoun Stadium, helping attract millions of visitors to Glasgow. They employ over 2,600 people across their facilities and their commitment is a signal to their staff and other employers in the region.
Bailie Annette Christie, Chair of Glasgow Life said:
“Glasgow Life already pays the Living Wage but this accreditation is a very important step forward for our charity. As one of the biggest employers in Glasgow and one of the biggest charities in Scotland, it is vital that we demonstrate this commitment to supporting our colleagues through the accreditation. The value of the Living Wage, which is based on living costs, is clear and aligns with Glasgow City Council’s Fair Work ambitions and practices and Glasgow Life’s own mission to help improve the happiness, health and wealth of people in Glasgow.”
In Scotland, 91% of all jobs pay at least the real Living Wage, this is higher than any other UK nation. Despite this, nearly 1 in 10 jobs still pay less than the real Living Wage which equates to 234,000 jobs.
The real Living Wage is the only UK wage rate calculated according to the costs of living. Employers choose to pay the real Living Wage on a voluntary basis, recognising the value of their workers and ensuring that a hard day’s work receives a fair day’s pay.
Since 2011 the Living Wage movement has delivered a pay rise to over 68,000 people in Scotland and put over £600 million extra into the pockets of low paid Scottish workers.
Employment Minister Tom Arthur said:
“This will be a welcome boost for people working at Glasgow Life. Experience shows that adopting the real Living Wage can help recruitment and improve staff retention.
“Last year, the Scottish Government made it a requirement for all organisations receiving grant funding from a public body to pay the real Living Wage. This has enabled Scotland to have proportionately around five times more accredited Living Wage employers than the rest of the UK.”
Lynn Anderson, Living Wage Scotland Manager at the Poverty Alliance said:
“We are delighted that Glasgow Life has become an accredited Living Wage employer. They join a growing movement of more than 3750 employers in Scotland who together want to ensure workers have what they need.”
“Employers recognise that the security of a real Living Wage can help create a happier, healthier and more motivated workforce and we hope to see many more employers join Glasgow Life in going further than the minimum.”