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Dublin City Council Passes Living Wage Motion
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Last night the Dublin City Council, after an acrimonious debate, passed a ‘Living Wage’ motion, put forward by Cllr. Eric Byrne. The City Council condemned the prevalence of low wages, stated the minimum wage was inadequate, and committed itself to using its procurement powers to drive up wages in the private companies it buys goods and services from.
Labour united with Sinn Fein and progressive councillors to pass the motion over the heated objections of Fine Gael, while Fianna Fail abstained. The Council’s next step will not only be how to put this into practice and at what new, higher wage level will be set; it will also, in it’s own words, see how it can
‘mobilise trade unions, the business sector, community organizations and the citizens of Dublin to ensure that the ‘Living Wage’ minimum is established for all workers in Dublin.
When, in the words of the Managing Director of the TNS-MRBI polling company, the election debate is ’shaped more about posturing than policies’ - its a positive sign that politics is taking place somewhere and that practical, if small, steps are being advanced to tackle the problem of low wages in the economy.
Is there something a little arse over backwards about rising up the costs for the city council while not have any extra money coming from the central fund or rates or charges to pay for it?
That said, this would have been an interesting debate to listen to, sadly broadcasting or podcasting such a meeting on the web still seems to be beyond the councillors.
I also find it interesting that FF abdicated any interest in the debate what so ever.