SINN Féin councillor Ursula Gavan has called on the Council to lead the way to Limerick becoming a Living Wage City by ensuring all staff in its employment earn a living wage, and factor that policy into all contracts it undertakes.
In response at a recent Metropolitan District meeting, Cllr Gavan was informed that pay rates for local authority employees are set nationally by direction of the Minister of Housing, Local Government and Heritage or other relevant Ministers.
“These pay rates are notified to all local authorities by the Department and are implemented uniformly across the local government sector.
“Limerick City and County Council does not have discretion with regard to these pay scales,” the local authority’s Human Resources Department explained.
