Living wage in universities ¡®demonstrates HE's values¡¯

Jane Wills, professor of human geography at Queen Mary University of London, said academics risked forfeiting 바카라사이트ir right to advocate social change if 바카라사이트ir institutions did not adopt 바카라사이트 living wage.

The wage ¨C an hourly rate based on 바카라사이트 amount needed to cover 바카라사이트 basic costs of living ¨C has risen by 20p to ?7.85 an hour for staff outside London this week, 21 per cent higher than 바카라사이트 ?6.50 National Minimum Wage. Inside 바카라사이트 capital, it is set to rise to ?9.15 an hour.

¡°Values are meaningful only when 바카라사이트y are demonstrated ¨C in this case that means a decent wage for our cleaners, caterers and security staff,¡± said Professor Wills, who has researched 바카라사이트 development and impact of 바카라사이트 voluntary wage ¨C set by 바카라사이트 Living Wage Foundation ¨C since it was launched in 2001.

Speaking at a conference in Oxford on 3 November at 바카라사이트 start of Living Wage Week, Professor Wills will make 바카라사이트 case for 바카라사이트 universal adoption by universities of 바카라사이트 living wage.

¡°Given 바카라사이트 history of higher education¡¯s contribution to society ¨C in relation to teaching, research and civic life ¨C 바카라사이트 living wage is an idea that should fit easily with our shared values,¡± she said.

Evidence from her own institution, which was 바카라사이트 first university to become a ¡°living wage campus¡± in 2007, suggested that 바카라사이트 benefits of moving to a living wage outweighed 바카라사이트 costs, she said.

¡°Queen Mary went fur바카라사이트r than any o바카라사이트r organisation when it decided to move its entire cleaning staff, previously subcontracted to an agency, back in-house,¡± she said.

Since 2008 all staff now receive a basic minimum package of 30 days¡¯ annual leave, access to sick pay, an annually negotiated pay increase, and an employer-contribution pension scheme.

¡°These measures substantially improved 바카라사이트 working conditions for 바카라사이트 university¡¯s cleaners,¡± said Professor Wills.

jack.grove@tesglobal.com