South Lanarkshire (25/11/15)

I had a great laugh when I read this BBC report on Rutherglen Labour MP, James Kelly, demanding that Celtic Football Club pay the 'living wage' to all their staff.

Now I think the living wage is a good thing and although I don't know what the finances of Celtic FC are like these days, the club certainly ought to be making real efforts to pay their employees a decent minimum wage.  

But the reason for my hilarity is that James Kelly is one of the local Labour politicians  who had nothing of any significance to say during the long fight for equal pay in South Lanarkshire Council.

As regular readers and Glaswegians will know, Rutherglen is a big part of South Lanarkshire Council and there are lots of local constituents living there who would have welcomed their MPs support in standing up to the local Labour-run council and the Labour-supporting trade unions which actively discouraged their members from pursuing equal pay claims for years.

Labour's Westminster MPs in Lanarkshire were wiped out at the 2015 general election and all I can say is that I hope a similar fate befalls their MSPs when the elections to the Scottish Parliament are held in May 2016.

Because while James has lots to say about the pay of staff Celtic FC he kept his head down over a much bigger pay scandal taking place in his own back yard.

Celtic hit out at James Kelly MSP over living wage call

BBC Glasgow & West Scotland

Image copyright 0 James Kelly and SNSImage caption - Rutherglen Labour MSP James Kelly wants Celtic to become a living wage employer

An MSP who called on Celtic to become an accredited living wage employer has been accused by the club of using the issue for his own political purposes.

Labour's Rutherglen MSP, James Kelly, who is a Celtic fan, said it was "time Celtic remembered its origins" and paid all staff the £8.25 an hour rate.

However, the club said that he had "no knowledge of the workings of Celtic".

Last year, Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell said the club was being used over the living wage campaign.

Mr Kelly's comments came one day ahead of Celtic's AGM, where fans will table a resolution calling on the club to become an accredited living wage employer.

The rate, set by an independent foundation to make wages match the cost of living, has been adopted by about 380 firms across Scotland.

'Fair wage'

It is nearly a fifth higher than the national minimum wage, set by the UK government, of £6.70 an hour and over £1 more than the new minimum wage premium for over 25s of £7.20 an hour that will come into force in April.

Last year, Hearts became the first football club in Scotland to implement the living wage.

Mr Kelly said: "The Celtic board has the opportunity to make a commitment to hundreds of the club's staff.

"Celtic has a proud history of combating poverty. But in 2015, they are refusing a guaranteed fair wage to a great number of staff, many of whom are on casual contracts.

"It's time Celtic remembered its origins and became an accredited living wage employer: tomorrow presents the board with this opportunity which I hope they grasp."

'Better off'

At its AGM last year, Celtic said it was prepared to enter discussions with its permanent workforce on the issue but not with others including part-time and external workers.

Now a club spokesman has accused Mr Kelly of using the issue for his own agenda.

"Mr Kelly has no knowledge of the workings of Celtic but yet again seems to be involved in this issue for his own political purposes," the club spokesman said.

"We have done all that we said we would do at last year's AGM. 98% of the colleagues with whom we consulted were in favour of the proposed pay rise and structure, because they would be significantly better off with the higher hourly rate, rather than a discretionary bonus that could not be guaranteed.

"We have also met with the Poverty Alliance, who have welcomed the positive steps we have taken. It is totally misleading to suggest that this is anything other than a very positive step, overwhelmingly welcomed and supported by affected staff."