Church ‘is force behind Living Wage campaign’

THE CHURCH has been praised as the force behind the campaign for a Living Wage, in the week that Westminster became the first Catholic diocese in England and Wales to become an accredited Living Wage Employer.

Cardinal Vincent Nichols, who signed the accreditation licence on behalf of the diocese, said the decision signalled the importance of “human dignity inherent in work”.

Earlier this week, the Church also recommitted itself to paying all staff in Catholic schools a Living Wage. The benchmark salary, which, unlike the National Minimum Wage, is not legally enforceable, is £8.25 an hour outside London. The National Minimum Wage is £6.70 an hour.

The move was welcomed by Dave Prentis, general secretary of Unison, the public service union.

“This is a huge development for the thousands of school staff who have been struggling to make ends meet and a major step towards achieving fair pay in the country,” he said.

“The Catholic Church, alongside Unison and community groups, is the force behind this movement. The bishops are showing real leadership by encouraging businesses and other organisations to follow suit.”

Research by The Tablet found that every Catholic diocese in England and Wales paid centrally employed staff, including part-time staff, the Living Wage.

Two dioceses, Birmingham and Northampton, said exceptions were occasionally made if staff voluntarily accepted a sum beneath the Living Wage out of a sense of mission to the Church.

A spokesman for Leeds diocese said it had a very clear policy in regard to paying the Living Wage, which had been in operation since the appointment of Bishop Marcus Stock in 2014.

A spokeswoman for Plymouth diocese said it was working towards accreditation.