The Real Living Wage has pumped more than a billion pounds into the wallets of low-paid workers, campaigners have revealed.
The milestone has been reached 18 years after the fight for fairer pay was launched in an East End church hall.
Living Wage Foundation director Katherine Chapman said: “We’re delighted to announce that the Living Wage movement has now put over £1billion back into the pockets of low-paid workers.
“We talk to workers everyday who tell us the difference a Real Living Wage has made to them.
“Some have been able to cut back on overtime so they can get home to see their children before bedtime.
“For others it’s meant they no longer have to choose between heating their home or putting food on the table.
“This really matters – over a third of working parents on low pay have skipped meals due to a lack of money, and almost a quarter believe low pay has negatively affected their relationship with their children.”
The campaign for a London Living Wage began in East London, where cleaners working in the City took on multiple jobs and slogged long hours on the minimum wage just to survive.
(Image: Daily Record)
Backed by grassroots campaign group Citizens UK, they called on firms to pledge to pay all their workers, including outsourced and contract workers, a Real Living Wage that covered the cost of living.
In 2011 the Living Wage Foundation was established to widen the campaign across the UK.
Since then tit has won £1billion of extra wages and lifted over 200,000 people out of working poverty.
Analysts calculate the voluntary rate taking into account costs like housing, travel and healthy food, and extras like kids’ birthday presents.
Bosses say it helps companies’ reputations, employee retention and boosts staff motivation.
The voluntary level is £9 an hour, rising to £10.55 in London where costs are higher.
In contrast, the Government’s legal minimum wage – which it branded a National Living Wage in 2016 – is £8.21 for workers aged 25 and over.
The hourly minimum rate is £7.70 for those aged 21 to 24, and just £6.15 for workers aged 18 to 20.
Under-18s get only £4.35.
More than 5,500 businesses across the UK are accredited as Living Wage employers.
Citizens UK executive director Matthew Bolton said: “It’s brilliant that the Living Wage Campaign, which first started in an East London church hall 2001, has now given £1billion back to low-paid workers across the country.
“It shows change we are able to achieve when communities come together, call out injustice and take action for change.”
Helen Frith, 38, who earns £1,300 a month as a cleaner at Nottingham-based Radiant Cleaners, said: “The Living Wage makes the difference between existing and having a life.
“I used to have to duct tape my shoes back together, now I can buy new shoes.
“I was working but I couldn’t pay for any heating in my flat, my glass of water would freeze overnight.
“I managed to get myself invited round for dinner at people’s houses five nights a week because I couldn’t afford any food – I was embarrassed to tell people why.
“Being paid the Living Wage means I can afford food, have people round, have a social life.
“If you are working you should be able to afford to have a life.”
