Network Rail have received approval to become an accredited Real Living Wage employer. The real Living Wage rates for 2020/21 have been announced as £9.50 in the UK and £10.85 in London.
This means that over 250,000 people are set for a pay boost, since 2011, over £1.3 billion in extra wages has gone to low-paid workers thanks to the Living Wage movement, with £800m going to people in key worker industries and nearly £200 million in extra wages has gone to low-paid workers since the start of lockdown.
Over 800 more employees have accredited with the Living Wage Foundation since the start of the pandemic, and Network Rail is one of them.
Loraine Martins, Network Rail’s Director of Diversity and Inclusion, said: “I am delighted that Network Rail has been accredited as a Real Living Wage employer. While we already pay our 41,000 employees the Real Living Wage, official accreditation by the Living Wage Foundation means that thousands of rail workers in our supply chain will also benefit.
“The varied work that rail staff carry out on our trains, in our stations and on our tracks has never been more important than in recent months, where they have helped to keep Britain connected in challenging times by running a safe and reliable service for key workers and others relying on the railway.
“Our work with contractors and the Living Wage Foundation will ensure that railway staff are paid appropriately for their vital work.”
Images: Network Rail
