MEMBERS of the Vale of Glamorgan Council’s Plaid Cymru contingent are calling on the local authority to commit to paying council employees at least the Real Living Wage, and have referred to current wages as being “poverty pay.”

The Vale of Glamorgan Council have already committed to an increase in pay for some of it’s lowest paid staff, however this will still leave nearly 1,300 employees on less than the Real Living Wage equivalent.

Plaid Cymru’s leader on the Vale council, Cllr Ian Johnson, made the plea at last week’s full council meeting after uncovering that women made up 83 per cent of the authority’s lowest paid staff.

Cllr Johnson said "poverty pay" was unacceptable and that the council should take a lead on the issue.

“It is unacceptable that the Vale council pays so many staff below the Real Living Wage of £8.45 needed to ensure a basic standard of living,” he said.

“They should be taking the lead and setting an example for other public and private sector companies in the county.

“I have asked the new Conservative leadership of the council to set out a timetable for staff being paid the Real Living Wage, so the Vale stops being a poverty pay employer.”

Vale council leader Cllr John Thomas said: “I announced my intention to increase pay for many of our employees in June this year. It has been positively received and will be introduced on December 1.

"Councillor Johnson makes reference to the need to take a lead, and this is precisely why I have sought to implement the changes so quickly after the May election.

"As indicated, the proposal will be an important step in moving the council closer to the Foundation Living Wage over the course of this administration."