Vera Baird DBE KC

Chair Criminal Cases Review Commission. Member Women’s Justice Bd.
Ex Victims’ Commissioner, Solicitor Gen & PCC. Fellow St Hilda’s Oxford. Writer. Labour Party

Tag: Living Wage week

  • WINNER – Living Wage Leadership Award 2015

    Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner, Vera Baird, has been chosen as the winner of the Living Wage Leadership Award 2015 for the North East region.

    The Living Wage Foundation organise these awards to recognise the life changing impact individuals have made by leading the way on the Living Wage Campaign within communities.

    The awards are part of Living Wage Week 2015, a national celebration of responsible pay for everybody, running from 1st – 7th November.

    Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner, Vera Baird, said: “In the current economic climate it is imperative that we do everything we can to help lower paid workers as they face rising living costs. That is why I made it one of my commitments when elected to ensure we pay the Living Wage and we achieved this by bringing the cleaning contract back “in house” so we could pay them the Living Wage.

    “I have always been a strong advocate of the Living Wage and will continue to be, I’m proud to be a champion of this initiative and I am delighted to receive this award.”

    The Living Wage Foundation wants to celebrate the huge and diverse group of people who support the Living Wage Campaign.

    Beth Farhat, Regional Secretary for the Northern TUC said: “Congratulations to Vera and well deserved too, one of Vera’s first commitments as police and crime commissioner was make sure that the lowest paid in her workforce received the living wage, making a real difference to the quality and wellbeing of peoples lives.  Thank you very much for championing the Living Wage.”

    Living Wage Foundation Acting Director, Sarah Vero, said: “Congratulations to Vera on being named the Leadership Award winner for the North East region. The voices of people are at the heart of our organisation, and it is wonderful to have Vera leading the way in her region. We want to celebrate the individuals making a real difference to families and communities across the UK. Thank you very much for celebrating the Living Wage.”

    The Living Wage is an hourly rate set independently and updated annually. The Living Wage is calculated according to the basic cost of living using the ‘Minimum Income Standard’ for the UK. Decisions about what to include in this standard are set by the public; it is a social consensus about what people need to make ends meet.

    Vera Baird QC – Living Wage Leadership Award Winner 2015.

    Employers choose to pay the Living Wage on a voluntary basis. The Living Wage enjoys cross party support.

    One Leadership Award winner has been named in each region of the UK: Scotland; Wales; Northern Ireland; the East Midlands; the West Midlands; the East of England; Yorkshire and the Humber; North East England; North West England; South East England; South West England; and London.

    The awards judged by an independent panel of community leaders from Citizens UK, national community organising charity and home of the Living Wage campaign.

  • PRESS RELEASE: Commissioner Baird celebrates Living Wage Week.

     

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    Commissioner joins the celebrations for Living Wage week

    Northumbria Police is joining in with the Living Wage celebrations this week after almost a year as an official Living Wage employer.

    Living Wage week, which this year runs from November 2 to 8, will again celebrate Living Wage employers and the employees who benefit.

    The Living Wage is different to the minimum wage and is based on the amount someone needs to earn to cover the basic cost of living.

    Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner Vera Baird said: \”I\’m delighted the force is now able to join the celebrations of this unique club which has widespread political and business support.

    \”As the force celebrates being an official Living Wage employer for nearly a year, I\’ve been able to see first hand the difference implementing this policy has made.”

    There are now around 750 employers accredited by the Living Wage Foundation, committing them to pay the Living Wage to employed and subcontracted staff and the Commissioner added: \”I\’m delighted Northumbria Police is an official Living Wage employer.\”

    When the cleaners, who in the past were sub-contacted to Northumbria Police, were brought in house they received an extra £1.15 an hour – for an average contract of 20 hours a week.

    \”This is an extra £100 a month in the pay packet and shows how we value all our employees and the work they do and that everyone is part of \’Team Northumbria\’,\” Vera Baird said.

    She added: \”I\’ve always been an advocate of the Living Wage and as we’re in Living Wage Week, it’s now a good time to encourage other employers to come on board.  

    \”In the current economic climate we must do everything we can to help those on the minimum wage. If you value people, you have to show it and I believe that giving a decent wage is important.

    \”Currently 5.2 million people in the UK are paid less than the Living Wage with women and young people disproportionately affected.

    \”Living Wage week is an ideal time for other businesses to sign up – it\’s morally right and makes good business sense too.

    \”I\’m confident this time next year even more north east businesses will be accredited as Living Wage employers.\”

    The photograph shows Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner Vera Baird with one of the force cleaners Derek Bellis at Forth Banks.