West Yorkshire Combined Authority recognised as a fair and living wage employer

22 March 2024

The West Yorkshire Combined Authority, headed up by elected mayor Tracy Brabin, has been officially recognised as a Living Wage Employer.

This means that all employees of the Combined Authority will continue to receive at least the real living wage of £12 per hour.

The commitment also means that future contracts for regularly outsourced workers for the Combined Authority – such as office cleaning staff and bus station security officers – will also require at least the real living wage to be paid, as opposed to the Government minimum wage of £10.42.

The announcement was made today (22 March) by the Combined Authority and the Living Wage Foundation, which campaigns for employers across the country to pay a decent wage that people can live on, based on the current cost of living.

According to the foundation, over 14% of jobs across Yorkshire and the Humber pay below the real living wage, with at least 314,000 workers earning less than they need to buy food, pay bills, and make ends meet in the cost of living crisis.

Since 2011, the national Living Wage movement has helped deliver a pay rise to over 460,000 people, putting £3 billion back into the pockets of low paid workers through austerity and financial crises.

Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, said:

“West Yorkshire is a region of grafters, and hard work should always be rewarded with fair pay and conditions.

“Paying at least the real living wage is the most sure-fire way for employers to boost their productivity, while ensuring their workers receive a wage they can actually live on.

“Here at the Combined Authority, we remain committed to paying the real living wage whilst supporting others to do the same, as we build a stronger, brighter West Yorkshire that works for all.”

Katherine Chapman, Director of the Living Wage Foundation, said:

“We’re delighted that the West Yorkshire Combined Authority has joined the movement of over 14,000 responsible employers across the UK who voluntarily commit to go further than the government minimum to make sure all their staff earn enough to live on.

“They join thousands of small businesses, as well as household names such as Burberry, Barclays, Everton Football Club and many more. These businesses recognise that paying the real Living Wage is the mark of a responsible employer and they, like the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, believe that a hard day’s work deserves a fair day’s pay.

“We look forward to working with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority to grow the Living Wage across the region."

The Combined Authority has also signed up to the West Yorkshire Fair Work Charter, which was launched by Mayor Brabin and dozens of local businesses last November, following her manifesto pledge to improve the quality of work in the region.

Developed in partnership with local employers, trade unions and political leaders, employers that sign up commit themselves to meaningful action towards fairer working practices, to help build a thriving economy that provides better pay, conditions and opportunities for all.

The Combined Authority has today become the latest signatory of the Fair Work Charter, joining over 70 other local businesses and organisations in striving to provide better pay and conditions over time.

A simple online form allows businesses to register their interest in the West Yorkshire Fair Work Charter and can be found here: https://www.westyorks-ca.gov.uk/a-mayoral-combined-authority/mayoral-pledges/fair-work-charter/

Karen Loughlin, Regional Secretary of UNISON Yorkshire and Humberside, said:

“This is very encouraging. It’s a demonstration from the West Yorkshire Combined Authority that they are committed to making sure all staff are paid a wage that they can actually live on.

“It’ll be beneficial both for retaining existing experienced staff, as well as recruiting new workers.

“All staff should be paid a fair wage for the work they do in 2024. It’s a positive step to see West Yorkshire Combined Authority committing to that, and hopefully it’ll encourage other employers in the region to follow suit and become accredited by the Living Wage Foundation.”