The local authority has formalised its commitment to tackling low pay reports Luc Gauci Green

A group of people standing outside Hendon Town Hall with banners — Real Living Wage campaigners outside Hendon Town Hall – (Credit – Tricia Persad-Bevil)

Barnet Council has announced that it has formally become an accredited Real Living Wage Employer. It says the accreditation from the Living Wage Foundation recognises the council’s long-standing commitment to fair pay.

The move will ensure a minimum hourly rate of £14.80 both for all the council’s directly employed staff and eligible contracted workers.

Hailing the announcement, council leader Barry Rawlings, said: “Barnet Council has paid fair wages for a long time, but we are pleased to now be officially accredited as a Real Living Wage Employer.”

“This recognition reflects our belief that everyone deserves a wage that properly supports their wellbeing and meets the true cost of living. We are committed to ensuring our staff and contractors are valued, supported and paid fairly.”

Cabinet member for finance, Simon Radford, added: “Accrediting to the London Living Wage is a big step forward for Barnet: paying proper wages provides both dignity for those providing essential services to our residents, but also boosts retention and productivity so that we are more sustainable over the long term.”

The news was met with much celebration amongst Barnet’s charity and community organisations. Chipping Barnet Foodbank have called it a “lifeline to residents facing food insecurity.” A spokesperson added: “Research indicates that low pay remains a primary driver of food insecurity. This move by the council directly addresses the ‘in-work poverty’ phenomenon for its own sub-contracted workers.”

The foodbank has taken a leading role in campaigning for the change since 2024, alongside Citizens UK who have campaigned since 2022, while Rabbi Miriam Berger of Finchley Reform Synagogue secured a commitment from Cllr Rawlings to make Barnet a Living Wage Employer if elected at their ‘Accountability Assembly’ in 2022.

Cantor Zoe Jacobs of Finchley Reform Synagogue responded that they are “thrilled” by the council’s move. While noting the challenges and costs for employing a workforce, they “feel passionately that being in employment should enable a person to reach a standard of living where they can have a warm home and feed their family.”

Professor Andrea Werner of Middlesex University, whose research advocates for the adoption of Living Wage, said: “This commitment reinforces the principle that everyone working in the Borough should receive fair pay, particularly given the high cost of living in the capital. Living Wage accreditation benefits workers by improving financial security, supports employers in attracting, retaining, and motivating staff, and strengthens the wider community through increased local spending.”

While there was much positive sentiment, others highlighted the need for more work to be done. Local campaigners are now turning their attention to other “anchor institutions” in the borough, specifically the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, one of the largest employers in the area.

“Barnet Council has shown it is possible. We now urge our colleagues at the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust to join us by becoming an accredited Living Wage employer. Barnet Hospital resides in the same borough and by accrediting, our local NHS can treat one of the root causes of ill health in our community: poverty,” said Bob Bevil, advocacy and campaign lead at Chipping Barnet Foodbank.

Helen Davies, branch chair of Barnet UNISON also expressed the need for more work. She said: “It is good that after many years finally LBB has decided to become an accredited London Living Wage employer. We assume this means ALL careworkers working on Barnet contracts will be receiving this. However, for skilled workers to be paid the barest minimum they need to survive is not good enough. LLW is a floor, not a ceiling. We have the floor – now we move on to building the walls!”

Barnet Council encourages local employers across the borough to consider accreditation and join the movement working to ensure fair pay for all.

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