Q......What is the London Living Wage (LLW)?
A...... The LLW is calculated annually by the Mayor of London's GLA Economics department. Both Labour Mayor Ken Livingstone and Tory Mayor Boris Johnstone have given their support for the payment of the LLW to hotel workers.

Q.....How is the LLW worked out every year?
A.....GLA Economics use a living costs method developed by the Family Budget Unit at York University. This works out the minimum acceptable standard of living for "typical London families".
GLA Economics also use average income figures provided by the Department for Work and Pensions.

Q......How much is the LLW?
A.......This year and up to April 2010 it is £7.60 per hour. Since 2003 the LLW has been worth between £1.65 and £1.90 more per hour than the National Minimum Wage.

Q.....How do you define the London Living Wage?
a......The LLW is "a wage that achieves
*an adequate level of warmth and shelter
*a healthy palatable diet
*social integration
*and avoidance of chronic stress for earners and their
dependents".

Q......Our employer says that they only have to pay the National Minimum Wage. What should we do?
a.......This is what the banks in Canary Wharf and the City of London were saying before the Justice4Cleaners campaign run by Unite the Union and "London Citizens" started.
Many banks now make sure that their agencies pay the LLW.
Many Hospital Trusts and Universities now also pay the LLW.
The Hotel Workers branch of Unite are now campaigning to get the LLW as the base level for wages in hotels, and for differentials to be maintained.

Q......Doesn't it damage employers and doesn't it cost jobs.
A......No. The top accountancy firm KPMG paid the LLW to its cleaning staff. They said that staff turnover decreased, higher quality work from the cleaners was achieved, morale was higher and despite the introduction of improved sick pay sickness levels stayed the same. Absenteeism also decreased.
The accountants said it was positive for their business.

Q......So how can we get the LLW in our Hotel?
A......Come along to the next Hotel Workers branch meeting. The details are on the Home page. Non-union members are welcome to attend.
Our plans for 2009 use the LLW as part of our strategy.