Councillors today (Thursday 7th December) approved plans to increase the basic rate of pay for employees to £8.80 an hour.
The Council is an accredited Living Wage Employer and the decision at this week’s full Council meeting follows an announcement that the Living Wage would rise from £8.45 to £8.75 per hour, with accredited employers given until April next year to implement the increase.
Elected members made the decision to go beyond the basic rate and increase the minimum salaries of Council staff from £8.51 to £8.80 per hour from 16 November 2017 – benefiting 223 workers.
Stirling Council leader Scott Farmer said, “Stirling Council is continuing to lead the way in implementing the living wage by again paying above the recommended level to our staff. It is only right that workers are paid a fair and reasonable rate for the work they do.
“This decision set an example which we hope other employers will follow and sends out a message to our employees that they are valued and appreciated for the excellent work that they do in serving our communities.”
Convenor of the Finance and Economy Committee, Councillor Margaret Brisley, said, “We introduced the living wage for our workers in 2012 as a way to ease pressure on individual and family budgets for those who need it most.
“As well as making the Council a competitive employer and a leader in this area, there are also clear business benefits in paying the living wage, including higher staff retention, lower absenteeism and better morale as a result.”
The Living Wage is independently-calculated each year based on what employees and their families need to live and is paid on a voluntary basis by employers. It differs from the national minimum wage which is currently set at £7.50 an hour.
The Council has consistently delivered the Living Wage for its employees since 2012, and received accreditation from the Living Wage Foundation in 2015.
New living wage increase for Stirling Council staff
More than 200 Stirling Council workers including cleaners, catering staff, breakfast club assistants and road workers (Grades 1 to 3) are set to benefit from an early wage rise.
