Tomorrow is May 1st, the traditional date for the workers international movement to celebrate the rights and achievement of workers and trade unions across the globe. One of the most important campaigns which the Green Party has been supporting in this country is the campaign for a Living Wage and nowhere is that more relevant than in London where thousands of migrant workers, who are often not unionised, are exploited by ruthless employers.
Tomorrow I will be going with the Green Party Trade Union Group to support Jean Lambert on a demonstration about low paid cleaners and catering staff at some of London's leading academic institutions. Details below.
GREEN MEP MAKES ‘LOW PAY – NO WAY!’ CALL ON MAY DAY
- Jean Lambert MEP to speak at Living Wage rally in Bloomsbury
- Drama and music as campaigners demand justice for low-paid workers
Jean Lambert, London’s Green Party MEP, will make a May Day call for the London Living Wage (LLW).
Jean will join students, staff and union activists from the university colleges in Bloomsbury on a march this Friday 1 May, International Worker’s Day, to call for all employees to be paid a Living Wage, currently £7.45 in London.
The march, organised by the newly-formed Bloomsbury Living Wage Campaign, will stop at each of the educational centres around Russell Square, for speeches, drama and music.
Organisers have planned a special stunt to highlight the contribution low-paid, mainly migrant caterers and cleaners make to London.
The London Living Wage [1] is the minimum hourly rate of pay needed to ensure a decent standard of living, but workers at some Bloomsbury universities are still being paid the minimum wage – just £5.73. Many are forced to take on several jobs simply to make ends meet.
Campaigners have won commitments to pay all staff at least the Living Wage at four London universities – Queen Mary, the London School of Economics, SOAS and most recently Birkbeck. They are hoping for similar success at UCL, the Institute of Education, King’s, the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and London Met. They also want the institutions who have adopted the Living Wage to commit to all aspects of the London Living Wage package – not just the minimum salary – including union rights and decent sick and holiday pay.
Jean Lambert MEP, an expert on employment and a longstanding campaigner for worker’s rights, has pressed the European Commission to ensure EU rules support Living Wage policies. She said:
“The Living Wage campaign is one of the most important movements in London, and I’m proud to be joining this march and taking the May Day message of ‘Low pay – no way!’ to the Bloomsbury colleges.
“London’s universities are some of the best education establishments in the world. It’s time they set a similarly high standard for treatment of their staff. The capital is blighted by long hours and low pay, but everyone deserves a decent wage for their time.
“The recession has created difficult times for businesses, but workers should still receive fair treatment. We need justice for all.”
The May Day rally begins at 12 noon on the main steps outside SOAS, at 10 Thornhaugh Street, London (just off Russell Square).
ENDS
Notes to Editors
The Living Wage is the rate of pay that enables a worker to ensure a decent standard of living for themselves and their families. The London Living Wage Campaign estimates that as many as 400,000 people in the capital are paid less than the living wage. Service sector workers, including cleaners, security guards and caterers, are particularly vulnerable and can also face exploitation.
Jean Lambert is one of nine MEPs representing London and one of two UK Green representatives in the European Parliament. In October 2005 Jean was named MEP of the year for her work on Justice and Human Rights. Jean was first elected Green Party Member of the European Parliament for London in the 1999 European elections and was re-elected in 2004.
For more information please contact:
Rosie Lavan, Media Assistant
Tel: 020 7864 9965
Email: media-assistant@jeanlambertmep.org.uk
http://www.jeanlambertmep.org.uk/
- Jean Lambert MEP to speak at Living Wage rally in Bloomsbury
- Drama and music as campaigners demand justice for low-paid workers
Jean Lambert, London’s Green Party MEP, will make a May Day call for the London Living Wage (LLW).
Jean will join students, staff and union activists from the university colleges in Bloomsbury on a march this Friday 1 May, International Worker’s Day, to call for all employees to be paid a Living Wage, currently £7.45 in London.
The march, organised by the newly-formed Bloomsbury Living Wage Campaign, will stop at each of the educational centres around Russell Square, for speeches, drama and music.
Organisers have planned a special stunt to highlight the contribution low-paid, mainly migrant caterers and cleaners make to London.
The London Living Wage [1] is the minimum hourly rate of pay needed to ensure a decent standard of living, but workers at some Bloomsbury universities are still being paid the minimum wage – just £5.73. Many are forced to take on several jobs simply to make ends meet.
Campaigners have won commitments to pay all staff at least the Living Wage at four London universities – Queen Mary, the London School of Economics, SOAS and most recently Birkbeck. They are hoping for similar success at UCL, the Institute of Education, King’s, the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and London Met. They also want the institutions who have adopted the Living Wage to commit to all aspects of the London Living Wage package – not just the minimum salary – including union rights and decent sick and holiday pay.
Jean Lambert MEP, an expert on employment and a longstanding campaigner for worker’s rights, has pressed the European Commission to ensure EU rules support Living Wage policies. She said:
“The Living Wage campaign is one of the most important movements in London, and I’m proud to be joining this march and taking the May Day message of ‘Low pay – no way!’ to the Bloomsbury colleges.
“London’s universities are some of the best education establishments in the world. It’s time they set a similarly high standard for treatment of their staff. The capital is blighted by long hours and low pay, but everyone deserves a decent wage for their time.
“The recession has created difficult times for businesses, but workers should still receive fair treatment. We need justice for all.”
The May Day rally begins at 12 noon on the main steps outside SOAS, at 10 Thornhaugh Street, London (just off Russell Square).
ENDS
Notes to Editors
The Living Wage is the rate of pay that enables a worker to ensure a decent standard of living for themselves and their families. The London Living Wage Campaign estimates that as many as 400,000 people in the capital are paid less than the living wage. Service sector workers, including cleaners, security guards and caterers, are particularly vulnerable and can also face exploitation.
Jean Lambert is one of nine MEPs representing London and one of two UK Green representatives in the European Parliament. In October 2005 Jean was named MEP of the year for her work on Justice and Human Rights. Jean was first elected Green Party Member of the European Parliament for London in the 1999 European elections and was re-elected in 2004.
For more information please contact:
Rosie Lavan, Media Assistant
Tel: 020 7864 9965
Email: media-assistant@jeanlambertmep.org.uk
http://www.jeanlambertmep.org.uk/
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