Dave Thompson MSP

Dave Thompson, SNP MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch has joined a campaign calling for all SPFL Premiership clubs to become accredited Living Wage employers.

Currently Hearts are the only Premiership club to sign up to the Scottish Living Wage scheme – a voluntary agreement to pay all employees the Living Wage.

The Scottish Living Wage is set independently based on the cost of living and at £8.25ph is higher than the legally binding National Minimum Wage.

Mr Thompson has written to the Ross County Football Club Chairman to ask that the club signs up to the fair pay scheme.

Dave’s letter states: “Payment of the Living Wage makes sense for any business. Football clubs, however, have a particular duty to their supporters and communities to be good employers and role models for other organisations.

“Football in Scotland is a national passion. Clubs are at the heart of their communities and fans often make huge financial sacrifices to support their teams.

“Scottish football clubs have always led by example on a huge range of issues – from anti-racist and anti-sectarian campaigns to generous charity and community work. This has been an important recognition of Scottish football’s social responsibility.

“Everyone employed in Scottish football, from star strikers to the cleaners and box office staff deserve to be paid a fair wage.”

Peter Kelly, Director of the Poverty Alliance, said: “With over half of children in poverty in Scotland living in households where someone works, paying the Living Wage has never been more important.

“It is disappointing that so many football clubs are currently not accredited Living Wage employers, and we hope that more will follow the example of Hearts in the coming weeks and months.

"Football clubs across Scotland play an important role in the communities where they have roots, supporting a range of social and educational programmes. But their social responsibility shouldn't stop there; they need to play their part in tackling in-work poverty.  

“It is important that everyone who contributes to the match day experience is paid a fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work”.

Note:

Dave’s Letter to Ross County Football Club Chairman, Roy MacGregor, enclosed below:

Ross County Football Club
The Global Energy Stadium
Victoria Park
Dingwall
Ross-Shire
IV15 9QZ

22 February 2016

Scottish Living Wage - SPFL Premiership Clubs

Dear Mr MacGregor,

You will be aware that many football fans have argued that their club should guarantee that all staff be paid the Scottish Living Wage and that one SPFL Premiership club, Hearts, is an accredited Living Wage employer.

The Scottish Living Wage – currently £8.25ph – is independently calculated based on the Minimum Income Standard, or what is considered enough for workers to have a decent standard of living.

As well as majorly benefitting low-paid employees, payment of the Scottish Living Wage is proven to benefit employers, with research showing that Living Wage employers have found:

• A 25% fall in absenteeism
• 80% of employers believe that the Living Wage has enhanced the quality of the work of their staff
• 66% of employers reported a significant impact on recruitment and retention within their organisation
• 70% of employers felt that the Living Wage had increased consumer awareness of their organisation’s commitment to be an ethical employer.

Payment of the Living Wage makes sense for any business. Football clubs, however, have a particular duty to their supporters and communities to be good employers and role models for other organisations.

Football in Scotland is a national passion. Clubs are at the heart of their communities and fans often make huge financial sacrifices to support their teams.

Scottish football clubs have always led by example on a huge range of issues – from anti-racist and anti-sectarian campaigns to generous charity and community work. This has been an important recognition of Scottish football’s social responsibility.

I am writing to ask that [CLUB] give serious consideration to how becoming an accredited Living Wage employer would benefit you as a club and as a business.

Everyone employed in Scottish football, from star strikers to the cleaners and box office staff, deserve to be paid a fair wage.

Doing so would send a strong signal to your employees, to your fans and to other businesses across Scotland that you are committed to being an ethical employer.

Yours Sincerely,

Dave Thompson

MSP for Skye, Lochaber & Badenoch (SNP)