The University of Dundee has gained living wage accreditation and hopes to inspire other employers to do the same.
Awarded by Living Wage Scotland, the endorsement recognises the university’s commitment to paying staff a rate in line with the cost of living.
The university has pledged to pay its more than 3,000-strong workforce an independently calculated wage set annually by the Resolution Foundation, which is currently £10.90 an hour, rather than the government’s minimum rate.
Professor Shane O’Neill, deputy vice-chancellor and provost of the university, said: “I am delighted that we have been able to reaffirm our commitment to the real living wage through accreditation with Living Wage Scotland. I hope this will further strengthen the city of Dundee’s ambition to become a living wage city.”
Although the university has been paying the living wage since 2014, it teamed up with Unison to work towards accreditation to encourage other organisations to do the same and to demonstrate its commitment to helping Dundee become a living wage city.
Phil Welsh, of Unison, said: “The Dundee University branch of Unison has campaigned long and hard to ensure the university signed up to be an accredited living wage employer. Poverty pay is something which every employer must address, and accreditation is the first step on that ladder.”
As one of the city’s largest employers, the University also plans to work with its suppliers to promote paying the living wage across all its activities.
Lynn Anderson, Living Wage Scotland manager, explained that the university joins 3,000 employers in the city who have committed to giving staff cost-of-living salaries.
She added: “The University of Dundee is a prominent institution and a large employer in the city, and their living wage accreditation signals significant progress in the drive towards making Dundee a living wage city. We hope that more employers will be inspired to join the living wage movement by becoming accredited.”
