It’s Living Wage Week and two of Rotherham Council’s cleaning staff have been talking about the difference receiving the real Living Wage makes for them and their families.
As an accredited Living Wage employer, Rotherham Council is committed to pay its lowest-paid employees the real living wage – a rate set independently every year based on the true cost of living.
It was announced in September that the real Living Wage would increase to £10.90 per hour from the current £9.90 rate – an increase of 10.1% - which Rotherham Council employees will begin to receive from April.
The increase is the highest in the Living Wage Foundation’s 11-year history and reflects the rapid increase in energy and food prices affecting everyone.
Denise Fitzgerald has worked for the Council for over 10 years and cleans at a number of Council-run buildings, including Century Business Park, York Gardens and Hurly Croft.
Denise said: “The extra money we get through the Living Wage makes a big difference. It takes away some of the stress you feel when you see the bills going up and up.
“We have four people living at home and we’ve seen the cost of the weekly shop go from about £80 to £130 in a short space of time. I don’t know where we’d be without the extra money.”
Wendy Johnson has worked for the Council for more than 20 years and currently cleans at Rosehill House, Marshall Close and Pottery Close.
Talking about the Living Wage, Wendy said: “Getting a little bit more makes a big difference. Without it I doubt I would be able to run the car, which means I wouldn’t be able to work because I cover a number of different sites and would struggle to get there at the times I’m needed.
“My energy contract recently came to an end and my direct debit has increased from £120 per month to over £200 per month, so the extra money will make the difference between having the heating on or not some of the time.”
Councillor Chris Read, Leader of Rotherham Council, said: “The challenges being faced by Wendy and Denise are typical of those being faced by people across our borough. The cost of living crisis is disproportionately affecting people on the lowest incomes - a fair day’s pay for a hard day’s work is the best way we can help our employees through it.
“Paying the real living wage is the right thing to do for our employees and for our residents. It enhances our ability to recruit and retain staff and supports the local economy as our employees spend their money locally. We are working with the companies that provide services on behalf of the Council to ensure that they too commit to paying the real living wage and would urge all businesses across Rotherham to do the same if they are able.”