Rachel Reeves's speech to Labour Party Annual
Conference 2012
2 October 2012
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Rachel Reeves MP, Labour's Shadow Chief Secretary to the
Treasury, said today at Labour Party Annual Conference
2012:
When Ed Miliband calls for an economy that works for
working people, some people ask what that means in
practical terms.
Well now we're going to talk about a very concrete
example: the campaign for a Living Wage - that's been
built by trade unions, community groups, our own Labour
Students who have been fighting for it alongside staff in
universities in colleges, and increasingly taken up by
far-sighted employers - gives us a great example of the
kind of change we want to see and the kind of difference it
can make to people's lives.
The argument for a living wage is moral and economic.
It's based on the belief that work should bring the
dignity of a decent wage - enough to keep a family out of
poverty and debt.
And as we'll hear this morning, it can mean stronger
business models, based on better skilled, better motivated,
more productive employees.
Those employers that have implemented the policy, including
an increasing number in the private sector, report that the
extra money put into the pockets of their employees is more
than made up for by the savings they make as a result of
improved recruitment and retention and the benefits to
their business of the boost it gives to staff morale and
engagement.
But if that's what we really believe, then we should be
looking to put it into practice wherever we can.
That's why Ed Miliband and I wanted to do whatever we
could to support those Labour councils who wanted to make
this commitment to their employees and communities.
It's a bold ambition, and a very big ask for councils
who have are bearing the brunt of budget cuts and
unprecedented pressure on services, resulting from the
recession, rising deprivation, and an ageing population.
You might be forgiven for thinking that a Living Wage was a
nice idea for another day, but not a practical proposition
at a time like this.
But you'd be wrong.
Earlier this year, Labour councils in Lewisham and
Islington became the first accredited Living Wage
authorities in the country.
And today, it gives me immense pride to announce that,
thanks to the commitment and creativity of Labour
councillors, as well as the work of trade unions like
UNISON, the GMB and Unite, and community organisations like
Citizens UK and the Living Wage Foundation, the following
councils are now on their way to becoming accredited Living
Wage Employers:
Camden;
Birmingham;
Preston;
Oxford;
Lambeth;
Southwark;
Hounslow;
And Cardiff.
In total, around the country, we can now point to over 12
Labour councils, from Glasgow to Hackney, showing that a
fairer economy isn't just a noble idea, it's
something we can start building right here, right now.
Even in opposition, even in times as tough as these.
And I know of many other councils up and down the country
who are now looking at whether this is something they can
deliver.
So to tell us a bit more about how it can be done, I'm
delighted to be able to introduce:
Fran Massey, a UNISON member who works at Manchester
College;
Steve Bullock, Mayor of Lewisham, the first council to
become an accredited Living Wage employer;
And Alan Buckle, Deputy Chairman of KPMG International, one
of the first private sector employers to take up the call
for the Living Wage.
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