Towards a Living Wage Campaign: EAPN Decent Work Task Force

1. EU Inclusion Strategies Group MeetingBrussels, 4 October 2014 Decent Work Task Force: Towards A Living Wage Campaign Loraine Mulligan & Paul Ginnell EAPN Ireland

2. EAPN Decent Work Task Force Terms of Reference: • To develop resources to launch a coordinated campaign on the issue of decent/living wages across EAPN, drawing on previous work in EAPN and on the experience of the UK ‘Living Wage Campaign’. • The Task Force will produce a toolkit on campaigning on the issue of ‘a living wage’, along with any other ancillary campaign tools which it deems useful, and prepare a scoping note, to be discussed with the EU ISG, on developing an EAPN campaign, using the toolkit and other tools. These will then be used in the implementation of such a campaign across the EAPN membership (to be followed up by members of the EU ISG or other members of their national networks, delegated by them).

3. EAPN Decent Work Task Force Members: Loraine Mulligan (EAPN Ireland, Chair) David Moxham(EAPN UK / Scotland) Vito Telesca(EAPN Italy, EU ISG member) Raluca Mănăilă(EAPN Romania, EXCO member) GreeteVeesalu(EAPN Estonia, expert by experience) JúlioPaiva(EAPN Portugal) Amana Ferro (EAPN Secretariat support) 3 meetings in Brussels: 11 December 2013 * 28 February 2014 * 11 September 2014 Methodology & Resources: • Direct input and presentation of the Scottish campaign model; • Feasibility survey dispatched to EXCO members (8 responses); • Exchanges and information-sharing in Task Force meetings. • Additional desk research.

4. EAPN Task Force on Decent Work WHY A TASK FORCE ON DECENT WORK: • Decent work (quality of jobs and employment) and its links to poverty and social exclusion - key issue of interest for EAPN • The financial crisis and subsequent austerity packages significantly lowered job and employment quality – including by hitting wages • Increased in-work poverty, in close connection with downward pressure on wages, linked to competitiveness. WHY A LIVING WAGE CAMPAIGN: • Living Wage = a wage allowing a person (and their family) to live in dignity (above the statutory minimum) • Very successful campaigns implemented in the UK / Scotland • EAPN UK workshop at the General Assembly in Oslo, 2012 => widespread support within EAPN networks to run such a campaign.

5. Deliverables – The Concept and Feasibility Note Rationale & Background • Clarifying the need for EAPN to do this • What is the basic idea / purpose • The problem of low pay • Decent Work agenda and links • Different approaches to tackling the problem, need for complementarity: - Statutory Minimum Wage - Collective Bargaining, e.g. national, sectoral, and / or company agreements

6. Deliverables – The Concept and Feasibility Note The concept of Living Wage • What is it? Elements, definitions, comparisons and links • Emphasis on the need for workers’ earnings to provide a basic, but socially acceptable, standard of living • Existing initiatives to tackle low pay in different countries Grass roots campaigns typical to varying degrees: • Scotland: voluntary; aimed directly at employers (public & private) • United States: state/city ordinances • Under-developed in many countries

7. Deliverables – The Concept and Feasibility Note The feasibility of the campaign in EAPN • What can / can not be used from Scottish model • Methodologies for setting a rate: • Reference budgeting: Scotland, London, Ireland (higher than Minimum Income level) • Other possible options, e.g. minimum wage plus a premium • Individual Rate & adjustments for dependents • Urban versus regional / rural distinction? • Determine number of hours per week • Linkages with tax & welfare payments

8. Deliverables – The Concept and Feasibility Note The feasibility of the campaign in EAPN (cont’d) • What are the obstacles to implementation and solutions: - Capacity: human & financial resources - Approach: achievable targets/goals - Alliances: coalition of stakeholders - Awareness-raising: public education - Political Support: lobbying, identifying champions - Established wage-setting mechanisms: ensure complementarity - Employer buy-in: scope to overcome resistance - Monitoring: need to uphold credibility through quality & compliance

9. Deliverables – The Campaign Guide CONCLUSION OF THE FEASIBILITY EXERCISE: • Too early to jump in a fully-fledged campaign, a preparatory phase is needed first. • This may act as a one-off awareness raising action, or as laying the ground for a campaign. • The EU ISG will assess, reflect, and decide at the end of 2015. The Campaign Guide reflects this: • Overview – What the Guide will tell you, where the idea comes from, the Scottish model, context. • PART ONE: Preparatory phase / awareness-raising action on living wage at a national level (2015) • PART TWO: Developing a formal campaign (2016 – if so decided) • Potential barriers to overcome • Each step broken down into activities with dedicated advice • Practical tipsand suggestions on how to organise and run different activities • Success stories from the Scotland / UK campaign

10. Deliverables – Other campaign material • Logo and slogan: to be translated and adapted in national languages • Online media: static page on the EAPN website, dynamic Facebook page, use of hashtag on Twitter, publicising updates through LinkedIn and members’ websites • 2-page briefing / leaflet: to be prepared by the Secretariat and translated / adapted in national languages.

11. Timeline – Next steps • “Awareness – raising activity on living wages” included in EAPN’s 2015 work programme, as submitted to the European Commission • Proposed roadmap for 2015: • Mapping similar initiatives and identifying potential partners • Putting the concept out there – raising visibility • Developing own campaign model • Identify existing employers which already satisfy the criteria --- 6.2016(to be decided) - Acting within a coalition, approach employers, following the Scottish model, to persuade them to pay a Living Wage • All steps described in detail in the Concept and Feasibility Note, as well as the Campaign Guide. • All networks to appoint a Coordinator by the end of the year.

12. Questions for debate • Do you agree with the proposed approach? • Is the timeframe realistic, or is more time needed? 3. How to improve the Campaign Guide? 4. What other support can the EAPN Secretariat give? 5. Any other issues?