NationStates Jolt Archive

Council announces £7 minimum wage

Workers at Scotland's biggest local authority, Glasgow City Council, will be paid a new minimum wage of £7 an hour, in a drive to tackle low pay.

Council leader Steven Purcell said the move would boost the wage packets of the lowest paid staff by more than £1,100 a year.

He issued a challenge to other employers to do the same.

The £7 Glasgow rate will come into force on 1 April - ten years since the national minimum wage was introduced.

In a speech to the Scottish Labour conference in Dundee, Mr Purcell said it was vital for Labour to address low-paid work, which he said was not enough to lift the "plight of poverty".

"There are up to 80,000 workers in Glasgow earning less than £7 an hour and this has the potential to improve the lives of thousands of families across our city," he said of the council initiative.

"Low pay discriminates against women more than men and I'm pleased to confirm that the vast majority of staff who will benefit from this new rate of £7 an hour are, in fact, women."

The minimum wage for employees over 21 increased by 3.8% in October to £5.73 per hour.

It is £4.77 for workers aged between 18-21 and £3.53 (HS thats nearly an army privates pay! *cue riots*) for staff aged 16-17.

Mr Purcell told the conference: "We in the Labour Party are rightly proud of the introduction of the national minimum wage, in the face of fierce opposition from the Tories.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/7931168.stm

for the record the most I've ever earned ph is £7.50 (actually £7 is a really decent wage imo)

so what does NSG think? how much are you on? do you think you should be earning more? can Glasgow afford this?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/7931168.stm

for the record the most I've ever earned ph is £7.50 (actually £7 is a really decent wage imo)

so what does NSG think? how much are you on? do you think you should be earning more? can Glasgow afford this?

If my conversion rate is still right... thats more than I ever made on at any job I ever had working for someone else. My best pay rate was $10.35 US an hour.

I'm earning about £20-£30 per hour on a good weekend but it's very weather dependent work

If my conversion rate is still right... thats more than I ever made on at any job I ever had working for someone else. My best pay rate was $10.35 US an hour.

you should move to Scotland *nods* (sadly everything costs more though)

I'm earning about £20-£30 per hour on a good weekend but it's very weather dependent work

how does it feel knowing that everyone on NS now hates you?

I'm earning about £20-£30 per hour on a good weekend but it's very weather dependent work


Yep, if you stand out in rain, your make up runs, the hair is ruined...its just not a bankable look.

how does it feel knowing that everyone on NS now hates you?

Hey I said it was 'weather dependent'. Trying to get good weather in Scotland is damn near impossible :p

Yep, if you stand out in rain, your make up runs, the hair is ruined...its just not a bankable look.

Pffft like I could make that much money in that line of work

Hey I said it was 'weather dependent'. Trying to get good weather in Scotland is damn near impossible :p

What do you do?

Not more than American masters degreed government watchdogs :)

What do you do?

Nude street dancing.

With ribbons.

Nude street dancing.

With ribbons.

Dundee-Fienn is male or female?

It's an important piece of info before I contemplate such a thing :p

Dundee-Fienn is male or female?

It's an important piece of info before I contemplate such a thing :p

Heck if I know.

:(
Everyone -- and I mean EVERYONE -- makes more than we do.

If my conversion rate is still right... thats more than I ever made on at any job I ever had working for someone else. My best pay rate was $10.35 US an hour.
Your conversion rate is out of date. £7 is $9.86.

Not more than American masters degreed government watchdogs :)

but how many watchdogs do you know who are part time cleaners?

Everyone -- and I mean EVERYONE -- makes more than we do.

*throws some change on the floor*

you guys should start a union its not like jolt can't afford it now

Your conversion rate is out of date. £7 is $9.86.

I miss the days when I could buy an American hooker for about £2.50 :(

but how many watchdogs do you know who are part time cleaners?


I'm the new guy. I'll leave it at that.

I'm the new guy. I'll leave it at that.

*waits for you to be taxed more so you end up earning less* :tongue:

:(
Everyone -- and I mean EVERYONE -- makes more than we do.

It's true. I got paid more for volunteering at a food pantry. They at least gave me sandwiches for lunch.

It's true. I got paid more for volunteering at a food pantry. They at least gave me sandwiches for lunch.

that will learn you for volunteering for things

:(
Everyone -- and I mean EVERYONE -- makes more than we do.

I make the least amount of any mod! Kat makes more than me! :D

'mon the Weege!



(Not that I work for the Council...)

*throws some change on the floor*

you guys should start a union its not like jolt can't afford it now


They've gone indy (http://www.nationstates.net/page=news/2009/02/25/index.html#rebirth)

I had a dream: we would snuggle close to a professional games development company, and they would deliver a brilliant, shining NationStates sequel while hosting us here for all eternity. But that didn't really work out, so we split.

NationStates is now hosted by me, and doesn't have terribly much to do with NS2 any more. The good news is that means we are free to do what we like here, including adding a few new features.

One thing this experience has taught me is how special the game is. We have something here. And it's due a little love and attention.

Whats US minimum wage these days, $6.50?...It was last time I was makin Minimum Wage I believe...

How can we pay less than Britain? Honestly, didnt we leave them for that? lol

Whats US minimum wage these days, $6.50?...It was last time I was makin Minimum Wage I believe...

How can we pay less than Britain? Honestly, didnt we leave them for that? lol

Federal is $6.55. Don't forget that extra nickel an hour!

San Francisco raised its minimum wage this year to almost meet Glasgow--$9.80. CA is $8.

Federal is $6.55. Don't forget that extra nickel an hour!

San Francisco raised its minimum wage this year to almost meet Glasgow--$9.80. CA is $8.

Wait...Individual cities can do that? Like, the whole of MS follows only the federal amount...

I make about $8.50/hr...

Wait...Individual cities can do that? Like, the whole of MS follows only the federal amount...

I make about $8.50/hr...

Yep. So long, obviously, as their minimum is higher than the federal minimum. But they can also raise taxes--I'm betting our 8.75% sales tax is a bit higher than MS.

EDIT: Interesting fact--apparently you can have a lower minimum wage than the federal one--if you live in Kansas. Employees "not subject to the Federal Fair Labor Standard Act" do not have to be paid federal minimum wage, and instead earn Kansas's state minimum wage--$2.65/hour.

Kansas: not only backwards and devoid of topographical diversity, but cheap, too!

EDIT 2: Not just Kansas! Wisconsin, Georgia and Wyoming also have minimum wages lower than the federal standard for "exempt" employees. So if you live in those states, don't work for a small business, I guess.

Yep. So long, obviously, as their minimum is higher than the federal minimum. But they can also raise taxes--I'm betting our 8.75% sales tax is a bit higher than MS.

EDIT: Interesting fact--apparently you can have a lower minimum wage than the federal one--if you live in Kansas. Employees "not subject to the Federal Fair Labor Standard Act" do not have to be paid federal minimum wage, and instead earn Kansas's state minimum wage--$2.65/hour.

Kansas: not only backwards and devoid of topographical diversity, but cheap, too!

I think here, you have to get tips in order to not be paid Minimum wage, and thats the only way...But, our sales tax is 7%...Both beat Alabama, 9% sucks balls...

I think here, you have to get tips in order to not be paid Minimum wage, and thats the only way...But, our sales tax is 7%...Both beat Alabama, 9% sucks balls...

Jobs where tips are factored in are different, but there are federal minimum wages for those, too. The "exemption" from the fed. min. is mostly when businesses employ fewer than X number of people, I think.

I think here, you have to get tips in order to not be paid Minimum wage, and thats the only way...But, our sales tax is 7%...Both beat Alabama, 9% sucks balls...

certain farm jobs are also exempt from federal minimum wage.

Tip jobs are almost always better anyways. you should average well over minimum wage and it is pretty easy to hide part of your cash tips from taxes.

Jobs where tips are factored in are different, but there are federal minimum wages for those, too. The "exemption" from the fed. min. is mostly when businesses employ fewer than X number of people, I think.

i think its only certain seasonal farm jobs that avoid minimum wage.

so what does NSG think?

A very large variety of thoughts.

how much are you on?

Probably something in the order of 2000+ calories a day.

do you think you should be earning more?

Of course! Or was this a rethoric question? In which case: of course!

can Glasgow afford this?

This: yes. Me: no!

Dundee-Fienn is male or female?

It's an important piece of info before I contemplate such a thing :p

All the same in the dark son, all the same.....

certain farm jobs are also exempt from federal minimum wage.

Tip jobs are almost always better anyways. you should average well over minimum wage and it is pretty easy to hide part of your cash tips from taxes.

We don't tip as Americans do. In fact, I never tip - something most Americans I've met find abhorrent.

:(
Everyone -- and I mean EVERYONE -- makes more than we do.

Yeah, but where else is it legal to be this sadistic?

*randomly DEATs preceding five posters*

*revives Ryadn, on the grounds that anyone who knows that much about minimum wages is handy to have around*

Of course this is only in Glasgow, the UK minimum wage is £5.52/hour if you are over 22, which is ridiculously low really. You could probably just about survive on it, if it's a full time job (worked out at around £10,000 a year, assuming min of 35 hours a week) but it would be very tight.

Of course this is only in Glasgow, the UK minimum wage is £5.52/hour if you are over 22, which is ridiculously low really. You could probably just about survive on it, if it's a full time job (worked out at around £10,000 a year, assuming min of 35 hours a week) but it would be very tight.

It's only within Glasgow City Council, not even Glasgow itself. I'm pretty sure the council has no legal ability to enforce a city-wide minimum wage that is higher than the national minimum. They're asking for companies to voluntarily increase it.

We don't tip as Americans do. In fact, I never tip - something most Americans I've met find abhorrent.

Yeah i'm the same. I absolutely hate tipping and I hate the argument that waiters/waitresses deserve a tip because it's hard work for low pay. There are loads of jobs out there with low pay and much harder work that don't traditionally get tips.

They're asking for companies to voluntarily increase it.
As if that's going to happen.

The conversion rate equals to about $15.5 an hour about what you would expect for a menial job unless you work in some fucked up industry. But from what many Brits have told me things over there are pretty expensive so maybe that is still not much or maybe enough for a minimum wage.

*randomly DEATs preceding five posters*

do you know what else has 5? the flag of red China!

your liberal bias is showing comrade :mp5:

You could probably just about survive on it, if it's a full time job (worked out at around £10,000 a year, assuming min of 35 hours a week) but it would be very tight.

its not so bad if you supplement your income with volunteer work

Of course this is only in Glasgow, the UK minimum wage is £5.52/hour if you are over 22, which is ridiculously low really. You could probably just about survive on it, if it's a full time job (worked out at around £10,000 a year, assuming min of 35 hours a week) but it would be very tight.

Not that it makes much of a difference, but is the standard work week over there only 35 hours? Makes a difference, as here in the states standard "full-time" is 40 hours.

I want to know where they are going to find the money for this massive pay rise. Will it impact the council tax, and will it cause other areas of spending to be cut back on, since Holyrood as put a curb on council tax rises.

I am not happy with this.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/7931168.stm

for the record the most I've ever earned ph is £7.50 (actually £7 is a really decent wage imo)

so what does NSG think? how much are you on? do you think you should be earning more? can Glasgow afford this?
Anyone that needs to support a family and can only earn minimum wage should be ashamed of themselves for not having developed any skills. Anyone that needs a first job isn't worth minimum wage, no matter what it is. Furthermore, what an employee earns should be a strictly private matter between him and his employer. No government interference needed.