Torbay Green Party and the TUC in Paignton this week supporting a Living Wage for Torbay
The Torbay Green Party continues to campaign for real changes in the lives of so many people who have been marginalised by the establishment parties and has given its full support to the Living Wage Campaign being run by Torbay Trades Union Council.
Dr Sam Moss, chairman of Torbay Green Party told the PRSD: “Torbay Trades Council is highlighting how their members are blighted by an ever-growing wage inequality which endangers health and has a detrimental impact on family life.
“A real living wage of at least £7.20 per hour, based on the work carried out for the Living Wage Foundation (LWF) by Loughborough University, will provide a secure margin so that hard-working families do not fall into poverty and debt when they face the kind of day-to-day challenges that the better off can take in their stride.”
Barrie Wood, secretary of Torbay TUC said: “I am delighted to hear that the Green Party locally and nationally are supporting the Living Wage Campaign, as we seek to build a consensus in favour of justice at work.”
Sam said: “The current minimum wage falls well short of what’s needed – more than a pound an hour short in fact – from last October the minimum wage has been just £6.08. This is totally unacceptable.
“Every study finds the ‘poverty threshold wage’ to be higher than the minimum wage set by the coalition government. If the Greens were in power the national minimum wage would be set at the level of a real living wage equal to 60% of net national average earnings.
“The Living Wage will rise above £7.20 in November (approximately 3.5% according to the LWF).
“We call on Torbay Council to establish a Living Wage Commission for the borough as soon as possible to stop poverty wages being paid in Torbay and help reduce inequality.”
The proportion of people on low pay is steadily increasing and the economic gap between Torbay and the rest of Devon and the UK has been widening in recent years.
The yearly average income per person in Torbay is over £3,000 below the national average and The Bay area has pockets of severe deprivation – the consequences of this will affect us all. The overwhelming evidence shows that more equal societies are healthier, happier and more prosperous.
