The West London NHS Trust, which runs a number of services across sites in Ealing including St Bernard’s has been accredited as a Living Wage Employer.
The Trust’s Living Wage commitment will see that everyone working directly at Trust sites in London receives a minimum hourly wage of £11.95, which is £2.45 an hour higher than the Government minimum for over 23-year-olds, of £9.50 per hour.
Nina Singh, chief people officer at West London NHS Trust, said: “We’re committed to supporting staff with their financial wellbeing during the cost of living crisis.”
In 2022, Executive Directors at West London NHS Trust approved a motion to put forward an application to become a Living Wage accredited employer.
The Trust submitted its application in December 2022 and through its collaboration with the Living Wage Foundation has been able to meet all requirements needed.
For those working at the Trust via contracts with third parties, the Trust has until until 2025 to also bring them over to the Living Wage rates of pay. As contracts get renewed over time, then these contracts will specify in their terms to pay workers the London Living Wage.
Michael Milne, from Ealing Living Wage Alliance welcomes the move.
Mr Milne told EALING.NEWS: “Great news for those contracted staff currently on less than the London Living Wage which will include Ealing constituents. Although the three year target is disappointing at least the process has begun.”
Mr Milne also added that he hopes another trust in Ealing also looks at the example West London NHS Trust has set.
He said: “Can we hope the London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust can follow suit under Pippa Nightingale’s leadership? We clapped these careworkers through the Covid Crises and now we need to deliver a fair days pay for a hard days work”.
Katherine Chapman, Director of the Living Wage Foundation, said: “We’re delighted that West London NHS Trust has joined the movement of almost 11,000 responsible employers across the UK who voluntarily commit to go further than the Government minimum to make sure all their staff earn enough to live on.
“They join thousands of small businesses as well as household names such as Burberry, Barclays, Everton Football Club and many more. These businesses recognise that paying the real Living Wage is the mark of a responsible employer and they, like West London NHS Trust, believe that a hard day’s work deserves a fair day’s pay.”
