This International Women's Day, we're focusing on some of the women behind the Living Wage by sharing the stories of women heading up the City of London Corporation's Living Wage Campaign. Over the past two weeks, the campaign has seen posters across nine of the busiest London Underground stations calling on employers in the Square Mile to go further and ensure their staff earn a real Living Wage.
1of 4.jpg
Behind every successful campaign, is successful people and in this case, that's lots of women! Catherine, Samantha, Poppy, Megan and Prabhjeet all share their views on why this campaign was so important and special to them.
Catherine McGuinness - Policy Chair, City of London Corporation
"Our people are our City and they are the best investment we will ever make. Over 100 City financial and professional services businesses are accredited Living Wage employers, but I know more can join them.
"Paying the London Living Wage is good for business and good for society. But most importantly, it means a better quality of life, help for people to provide for themselves and their families, and giving employees a dignified life."
Samantha Lagan - Policy & Programme Manager, City of London Corporation
"I am so proud to have led on the development of this London Living Wage campaign for the City of London Corporation along with advertising agency, Creature London, and the Living Wage Foundation. Our two-week poster campaign is currently displayed across nine of the busiest London Underground stations and it's fantastic to see the hugely positive response to the campaign so far, with Campaign Magazine voting it "Campaign of the Day". Our social media campaign has already reached over 3.3 million people in its first two weeks, building real momentum, including City workers tagging their employers on social media to encourage them to sign up".
Poppy Cumming-Spain (Creature London)
"I'm a Londoner, born and bred. As such, I might be slightly biased in saying that I think London is the best city in the world. I'm fiercely proud of our capital. And that's why I was pretty furious when I found out that one in five people in London don't earn a wage they can live on. The best city in the world is not doing the best it can for its people. Instead, a fifth of the workers who make London what it is can't even afford basics. This is unacceptable. We have to do better. Every company in the Square Mile should be paying the London Living Wage. Our people are our City. It's as simple as that."
Megan Egan (Creature London)
"The issue of living wage hits close to home for me. I know all too well the struggles of not being able to earn enough to live a comfortable life, as people close to me struggle to make ends meet on a daily basis. They work incredibly hard and yet are left feeling undervalued by their employers, and as a result, suffer from stress and other mental health issues. "
Prabhjeet Daffu, Retail Assistant at the Museum of London
"Being part of the London Living Wage launch was a great experience and I was proud to represent the museum - itself a proud Living Wage employer. Living in London can be expensive and as this is my first job since graduating university, it was important to me to work somewhere that pays fairly and is passionate about investing in its staff."
Poster 2 Underground LLW Campaign CoL.jpg
Join nearly 5000 Employers like the City of London who are going further, and ensuring their staff earn a real Living Wage by accrediting with the Living Wage Foundation today.