The London Living Wage rate is set annually by the Living Wage Foundation and calculated by the Greater London Authority. It is currently £9.15 an hour compared to £6.50 for the statutory national minimum wage.
Despite making more than £1.1bn pre-tax profits in 2014, Land Securities imposes no requirement for construction workers on its sites in the capital to be paid the London Living Wage. Some are paid just £7 an hour.
While some major construction clients are implementing procedures to ensure that the Living Wage is paid on their projects, Land Securities is not one of them, according to the construction union Ucatt, which organised today’s demonstration.
Ucatt regional secretary Jerry Swain said: “Construction is a hard physical industry and workers are outside in all weathers. It is disgusting that Land Securities do not ensure the London Living Wage is paid on their sites.”
Ucatt’s protest is part of the TUC’s Fair Pay Fortnight where unions across the country have been highlighting low pay and exploitation of workers.
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