Dundee marks 7 years as a Living Wage City

Efforts to promote fair pay and secure working conditions in Dundee have been highlighted at a meeting to mark the anniversary of the Living Wage in the city.

Co-chair Cllr Steven Rome and other members of the Dundee Living Wage Action Group met Living Wage Scotland and Living Hours employers in the city to discuss what accreditation means for them.

The meeting provided an opportunity for the group to review the current situation in the city, seven years on from the start of the Making Dundee a Living Wage City campaign.

Attendees discussed how to encourage even more businesses to join and explore future plans to promote the movement. There are currently 118 Living Wage employers in Dundee, and 6 Living Hours employers.

Living Hours sets a standard for secure, stable employment and complements the real Living Wage. To achieve accreditation, employers must meet the following conditions:

•    Guaranteed hours: A minimum of 16 hours per week for all staff, preventing the use of zero-hours contracts.
•    Notice period: At least four weeks’ notice for shifts, with compensation if shifts are cancelled within this period.
•    Accurate contracts: Contracts that reflect the actual hours worked.

Speaking at the meeting, at the Social Security Scotland HQ in Dundee, Cllr Rome reaffirmed his support for the campaign and called for continued collaboration to achieve shared goals and ambitions.

He said: “Dundee’s Living Wage and Living Hours employers are showing real leadership in these difficult times by choosing to go further to support their staff and by working together to promote the aims of accreditation.

“By committing to fair pay and more secure working hours, these organisations are helping to build a stronger, fairer local economy for our city. If you want to find out more about accreditation for both Living Wage and Living Hours, please get in touch.”

Rachel Morrison-McCormick, Living Wage Scotland Projects Co-ordinator, said: “It is fantastic to see Dundee City’s continued commitment to the Living Wage movement.

“By extending their support to Living Hours, employers such as Social Security Scotland are taking important steps to protect workers from low pay and insecure work.

“Across Dundee, employers are setting a powerful example in the fight against in work  poverty. The same values that inspired them to commit to the real Living Wage are now driving this deeper commitment at a time when workers need it most.”

More information and contact details for the action group can be found on the council’s website.