V&A faces calls to become living wage employer on eve of Stratford opening Campaigners organise open letter to director demanding ‘fair day’s wage’ for all workers at V&A museums

www.theguardian.com/artanddesign...

Figure 4 shows, almost half (47 per cent) of arrears identified in 2024-25 were ‘self-corrected’ and so attracted no financial penalty at all.[8] Labour market enforcement orders and undertakings are also used very rarely: in 2024-25, there were only 25 open LMEUs, and no LMEOs had been used since 2022-23.

Creating the Fair Work Agency is a welcome milestone; but other enforcement challenges remain.

There will be no change to the scale of financial penalties, which are currently too low to be an effective deterrent. In fact, almost half of minimum wage cases are self-corrected so incur no penalty.

Good to see the Low Pay Commission pushing back - with evidence and data - against lazy narratives around the minimum wage, youth unemployment and the hospitality sector.

www.ft.com/content/6fcd...

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North East has become 'low pay capital of UK', campaigners say Analysis by the Living Wage Foundation suggests that almost one in five workers in the North East is paid below the real living wage level

Our #livingwage project getting a mention here
www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-e...

The @financialtimes.com feature which reviews different versions of a famous song is good this week. This week it’s the classic ballad, Tam Lin, and the main pick is Fairport’s version. Sandy Denny’s powerful singing still sounds incredible.

When stakeholders claim differently for diversity management: Adopting lesbian, gay and bisexual‐inclusive practices in Italy In the United States, the adoption of lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB)-inclusive practices by companies is triggered primarily by pressures from activists who base their claims on a business case rati...

Happy #LGBTHistory Month! 🏳️‍🌈

This #BJIR article from 2022 explores the adoption of LGBT-inclusive practices by companies in Italy, and emphasises the role played by a unitary #LGBT movement able to influence company behaviour.

Read here 👇 [open access]

doi.org/10.1111/bjir...

Sad news- briefly my Head of Dept many years ago

Our Handbook on the Sociology of Work is out! With Chris Rees, @odulbozkurt.bsky.social and Stephanie Limoncelli, and many truly wonderful chapter authors: www.elgaronline.com/edcollbook/b...

‘We have a new role’: mayors across the world increasingly taking on society’s biggest challenges From Budapest to Barcelona, New York to Paris, mayors are increasingly being thrust on to the political frontlines as they face down the rise of the far right

www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Trade unions leader calls on Labour to forge closer relationship with Europe In an exclusive interview, the head of the TUC Paul Nowak says a customs union with the EU could boost the UK’s economy

www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

For those who get the FT, there’s a good piece by Simon Kuper today on the spread of Kafala-type two-tier labour market systems to other countries.

Read this recently - it is really good

Petition: Call a public inquiry into Russian influence on UK politics & democracy We are concerned about reported efforts from Russia to influence democracy in the US, UK, Europe and elsewhere. We believe we must establish the depth and breadth of possible Russian influence campaig...

Just 13k more signatures and the call for a public inquiry into Russian interference has to be debate in Parliament

petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...

"By 2025, Brexit had reduced UK GDP by 6% to 8%, with the impact accumulating gradually over time. We estimate that investment was reduced by between 12% and 18%, employment by 3% to 4% and productivity by 3% to 4%"

Read the Stanford report:
siepr.stanford.edu/publications...

Council raises minimum pay to 'living wage' of £13.45 per hour Vale of Glamorgan Council raises minimum pay to £13.45 per hour, surpassing the statutory rate, after earning Real Living Wage Employer…

www.barryanddistrictnews.co.uk/news/2561174...

They are also an accredited Living Wage Employer

Like 20 speed limit in urban Wales

A reminder of the importance of universities to a local economy. Lancaster's university is fundamental to the area, with the centre already looking rather run down.

James Smith, Research Director at the Resolution Foundation, said: “The UK is repeating its recent trend of a strong economic start to the year, followed by a slowdown in the second half. “This latest slowdown shows the scale of the challenge facing the Government as it seeks to kickstart growth. The next challenge will be to ensure that the upcoming Budget supports rather than hinders growth – no mean feat given the scale of fiscal consolidation that is expected.”

Economic growth continued to slow in the third quarter of the year – down from 0.7 per cent in Q1, to 0.3 per cent in Q2 and to just 0.1 per cent in Q3.

Wagemap is a new organization seeking to establish a global standard for the recording and presentation of living wage data to allow international comparison and support social justice campaigning:
wagemap.org

Launch of Living Wage Week this morning at the Norwegian Church in Cardiff Bay. David Nash doing the honours

Taking place in Cardiff this afternoon as part of the ESRC Festival of Social Science - Running a Local Campaign on Fair, Local and Good Quality Jobs

Log In Welcome to the National Trust 2025 voting website, hosted by independent voting service provider Civica Election Services.

If you're a member of the National Trust remember to vote for council members by midnight tonight.

Use the Quick Vote option.

Entryist pressure group Reform Trust is trying to seize control. Stop them

Voting is quick and easy if your membership card is at hand

secure.cesvotes.com/V3-3-0/nt25/...

Real living wage to rise by almost 7% in boost for low-paid UK workers Hourly rate to increase in April by 95p to £14.80 in London and by 85p to £13.45 for the rest of the country

www.theguardian.com/business/202...

📢 Preston City Council has launched a grant scheme to help local SMEs cover the fee for Living Wage Foundation accreditation. If you're a Preston-based SME, check your eligibility and apply here:
🔗 www.preston.gov.uk/article/1110...

💼Job opportunity at Cardiff Business School

Research Associate - Nuffield Foundation Research Project

📅Deadline for applications: Wednesday 10 September

More information on the project👇
nuffieldfoundation.org/project/musc...

Apply here👇
jobs.ac.uk/job/DOH575/r...

Just published as an open access paper by IRJ. An overview of political devolution in the UK and its effects on industrial relations