Walsall Council staff to be paid living wage
Council staff in Walsall will be given a pay rise from the start of April, it has been decided.
Council leader Mike Bird said it was 'only right and proper' that the council paid all their staff at least the national living wage of £8.25 an hour.
The decision was made on at a meeting on Wednesday night by the Appointments Committee who unanimously voted in favour bringing it in.
Previously the council paid its staff at least £7.85 an hour.
Councillor Bird said: "We're going to follow the living wage yes. "We will review it annually as we have to with certain financial situations but it's only right and proper that we do it.
"Everybody deserves to be paid the living wage."
The wage increase, which could cost the council around £250,000 more per year according to a report, will come into effect at the start of the 2016/17 financial year on April 1.
