Rhondda Cynon Taf council set to implement living wage

UNISON campaign wins living wage for low-paid members

UNISON Cymru/Wales has applauded Rhondda Cynon Tafg council on its decision to award more than 3,500 council employees the living wage from 1 October.

A council cabinet meeting late last week saw agreement to make the move, which will affect staff on the council’s lowest three grades. Many of these work within education and lifelong learning.

The main job groups affected include supervisory assistants, kitchen assistants, assistant cooks, caretakers, cleaners, school crossing patrol, support assistants and teachers’ aides.

Following the meeting, Rhondda Cynon Tafg branch secretary Peter Crews hailed the move.

He told Wales Online: “UNISON has been campaigning for this for a very long time and we are very pleased that the cabinet has taken this decision.

“This will benefit our lowest-paid members, will benefit the community and will benefit the council.

Council leader Andrew Morgan noted: “I am firmly of the opinion that our staff are one of this council’s most valuable assets and it is deeply unfortunate that they have, over the last two years, borne the brunt of austerity and will inevitably continue to do so in the future.

“The decision taken by cabinet for the council to become a living wage employer is, I believe, the right decision, not just for Rhondda Cynon Taff, but for any employer.”

The living wage is currently set at £7.85 an hour and £9.15 an hour in London.