A recent report by the Institute for Public Policy Research stated that “far too many people in the UK earn far too little to get by”. In many areas across the UK, and especially in a city as expensive as Cambridge, the minimum wage is unable to meet basic costs of living, such as housing, food, and childcare.

The living wage aims to give workers the respect and dignity that they deserve for their work; something which the minimum wage cannot provide.

It is an hourly rate, calculated by the Centre for Research in Social Policy and is updated annually. The current rate is £7.45 per hour outside London.

Cambridge is the wealthiest university in Europe and yet other universities in the UK have been far more willing to provide for their staff. UCL, SOAS, LSE, and the University of Manchester and of Huddersfield are all living wage employers. Cambridge, on the other hand, employs 249 staff below this rate of £7.45.

We believe Cambridge's reputation as a socially responsible employer should be just as high as its academic one. Sign the petition now if you do too.

For more info email bm443@cam.ac.uk or visit cambridgeuniversitylabour.co.uk/living-wage-campaign