The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has today pledged that City Hall and the Mayoral bodies will lead by example on low pay as he revealed that he has discovered that some Transport for London subcontractors have been paid less than the London Living Wage under his predecessor.
The Mayor has tasked his eight Deputy Mayors and senior City Hall officials with conducting a thorough audit of City Hall and Mayoral bodies, including TfL, to root out any other examples of staff being paid below the London Living Wage, or other bad employment practices.
He called on all Greater London Authority staff and Londoners to come forward and let him know if they come across any examples of bad practice.
Sadiq Khan discovered that 18 contracted cleaning and security staff, working at the London Transport Museum, were paid less than the London Living Wage. The cases were bought to his attention by trade union representatives, during the regular discussions now held by the Mayor in his drive for a constructive engagement with unions.
Sadiq Khan acted immediately to ensure that these London Transport Museum contractors will now have their salary increased, and that, as part of Transport for London’s new cleaning and security contracts, which will cover all of London Underground’s stations and depots as well as TfL facilities and the London Transport Museum, all TfL employees, whether directly employed or employed through an agency, are paid the London Living Wage.
The London Living Wage is a voluntary hourly rate set independently and updated annually. The current rate is £9.40 an hour. Sadiq Khan is expected to unveil the updated London Living Wage rate for 2017 on 31 October.
Speaking at Mayor's Question Time, Sadiq Khan, said: “I am determined to create a fairer and more equal city where all employees are paid a decent wage.
“That means City Hall and the Mayoral bodies simply have to lead by example.
“It is shocking that people employed under the previous Mayor were not paid the London Living Wage.
“Today I’ve tasked my Deputy Mayors with ensuring that all staff working at City Hall and Mayoral bodies are paid the London Living Wage.
“And I want staff and Londoners to come forward and let us know if they hear of any other examples.
“The London Living Wage is a great campaign and I hope that more and more businesses across our great city will follow suit.”