Royal Docks Action Group – which London City Airport is a founding member – has been awarded a ‘Living Wage Places Champion’ award for its commitment to growing wages in East London at the Living Wage Awards.
The group has been recognised for its leadership in helping grow the number of real Living Wage Employers and pay rises in the area. London City Airport, a founding member of the group, is one of the London Borough of Newham’s largest single-site employers. Two thirds of the airport’s workforce live within five miles of the airport from its location in the heart of London’s Royal Docks.
The group launched an Action Plan in July 2022 at the start of a major campaign to make the Royal Docks in Newham a Living Wage Place. Since then, over 200 employees working in the Royal Docks have been uplifted onto the Real Living Wage and the number of employees now working for a Living Wage Employer in the area has risen from 5,685 in July 2022 to 6,663 in June 2023.
London City Airport was officially accredited as a Living Wage Employer in March 2019 and provides all its 570 directly employed staff in excess of the London Living Wage. This is also extended to key suppliers and contractors, including Mitie.
The annual Living Wage Champion Awards celebrate individuals and organisations that have made an outstanding contribution to the Living Wage movement. This year they were held in Manchester for the first time ever in recognition of the strength and growth of the movement in the region. The awards were supported by gold sponsors Aviva and Everton F.C., and silver sponsors Autotrader and Anchor Removals. The Living Wage Places Champion award was sponsored by Greater Manchester Poverty Action.
Michael Spiers, Chief People Officer, London City Airport, said: “As a member of the Royal Docks Action group, we are delighted to be recognised at the Living Wage Awards for our dedication to supporting living wages, and we hope to build on this as we continue bouncing back from the pandemic and recruiting for more jobs.”
Katherine Chapman, Director, Living Wage Foundation, said: “Given the challenges of the past three years, the record increase in Living Wage Employers is truly remarkable. The Living Wage movement has never been stronger, and in the current cost of living crisis, it has never mattered more. Nearly 13,000 Living Wage Employers have recognised this and signed up to ensure that everyone who works for them, including third party contractors like cleaners and security guards, earns a wage that meets everyday needs.
“We are celebrating the outstanding leadership these employers have shown in providing stability and security in their industries, communities, and wider society. They are leading the way in building a better and more equal world, and I warmly congratulate London City Airport on their well-deserved award.”
