Man United make July living wage pledge

Manchester United have vowed to introduce the living wage to all their full-time staff by July – a year earlier than many of their Premier League counterparts.

Two weeks ago, all 20 Premier League clubs bowed to public pressure in the wake of the record £5.136bn TV deal and agreed to introduce the living wage to all their full-time workers by the start of the 2016-17 season.

The living wage is based on the amount an individual needs to earn to cover the basic costs of living.

The living wage is now set at £9.15 an hour in London and £7.85 an hour in the rest of the United Kingdom, whereas the national minimum wage is significantly lower at £6.50 an hour.

Rather than wait until the summer of 2016 to pay all their full-time staff the increased wage, United have decided to bring the new pay rates in a year earlier.

A club statement read: “During last month’s Premier League shareholders’ meeting, the clubs agreed to adopt the Living Wage for all full-time employees by the start of the 2016/17 season.

“Manchester United is fully supportive of this initiative and will be implementing this policy from 1st July 2015, a year earlier than agreed.”

Unlike Chelsea, United’s sub-contracted staff will not be paid the living wage. That is the case at City also.

Protesters have been campaigning outside Old Trafford this week ahead of Sunday’s Manchester derby.

They are demanding both clubs pay their full-time employees and sub-contracted staff the living wage.