Morrisons to invest £40m to pay staff above living wage
GROCER Morrisons is planning on paying staff above the government’s compulsory national living wage, as of next year.
Morrisons will make an investment of more than £40m to increase the hourly pay rate, which has been negotiated and supported by shopkeepers’ union Usdaw.
From March, the firm will be increasing hourly salaries from a current minimum of £6.83, to £8.20.
It says that more than 90,000 staff will benefit, across all age brackets.
David Potts, chief executive of Morrisons, said: “We have been listening to our colleagues who told us they want their pay to be more competitive and simpler.
“By paying a significantly higher hourly rate, we are recognising the contribution of our excellent staff, who are so important to the revival of Morrisons.”
The shopworkers’ union Usdaw is supporting the pay move, with Joanne McGuinness, Usdaw national officer saying: “For some time we have been talking to the company about taking retail staff up and beyond the Living Wage Foundation rate.
“The new consolidated hourly rate is now the highest of the big four supermarkets, which is paid every hour, not just when staff work at times that attract premium pay. It is a big step forward, shows that the company are prepared to invest in the staff to help grow the business.”
