The SNP group on Comhairle nan Eilean Siar announced their budget amendments on the Wednesday forcing the Council Administration to include the Living Wage in their budget plans on the Thursday.
Since 2008, inflation has cut the value of local government pay by about 13%. The payment of the Living Wage to the lowest paid employees will give a significant boost to those who have been affected most byb inflation and affected most by the virtual pay freeze in local government.
Inflation is higher for those on a low income as they spend a greater proportion of their income on food energy, etc (Joseph Rowntree Foundation)
Also, the level of in-work poverty has risen in recent years.
Local government workers earning less than £21,000 have not received the increase of £250 paid to other public sector workers by the Scottish Government.
The Scottish Government has said that all local authorities in Scotland would be paying the Living Wage - locally the Distants Islands Allowance has been included in the calculation - this was an unacceptable situation.
Initially all three Islands Authorities were of the view that DIA should be included in the calculation but we are proud that the SNP Group have now been able to get it excluded and so the Living Wage will be paid plus Distants Islands Allowance.
Commenting on this great success, SNP Councillor Gordon Murray said:
"This is really a momentous occasion in which I am so proud to be a part of. To be able to fight and win for the low paid worker is one of the reasons I became a councillor - we have so many financial challenges facing us and the burdens and pressures on household budgets are huge and coupled with the highest levels of fuel poverty, it is tremendous that the council administration agreed with us in ensuring the Living Wage would be paid to employees."
A journal written by the SNP opposition group on the Comhairle nan Eilean Siar (Western Isles Council).
