On Saturday, V&A East will open its doors in Stratford, east London, showcasing stunning fabrics, photos and black British music.
While the V&A complies with all legal minimum-wage requirements, with some workers paid a living wage or above, campaigners say some of the lowest-paid contractors in London are not in receipt of the living wage.
But are they getting the legally enforceablr minimum wage? Yes, Reader, of course they are...
The UK minimum wage is £12.71 an hour and the living wage in London is £14.80 an hour.
And the ratchrt only turns one way.
According to the Living Wage Foundation, the living wage is the only UK wage rate that meets the real cost of living.
So campaign for ir to be made legally enforceable and see how far you get...
The worker-led platform Organise, which aims to secure better rights in the workplace, and Citizens UK, a campaigning organisation, have coordinated an open letter to the V&A director, Sir Tristram Hunt, and other senior V&A officials, calling for the £14.80 rate for all workers at the museums.
Mush less effort to try to shame people into paying something they don't legally have to pay.
Roxy Khan-Williams, the head of campaigns at Organise said: “The public expects institutions funded by taxpayers to treat all workers fairly. Paying the real living wage is not just a moral issue – it directly affects how people engage with these institutions.”
Really? I think if you were planning a trip, the wages paid to the staff would be the last thing on most peoples's minds.
It seems even this is wasted effort:
A spokesperson said: “All V&A staff are paid the London Living Wage or higher, and have been for many years. The majority of our contractors also pay the Living Wage or higher.”
Still, as long as it get you publicity.
