The Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) is now taking up the campaign to support the staff of the Youth Hostel Association (YHA) in their claim and efforts to be paid the living wage for working for the YHA.
The YHA is a long established charity proving economical accommodation for travellers, hikers and tourists. Despite being a charity, or maybe because they are a charity, they have not been able or willing to lift the wages of their staff who are on the minimum wage to the living wage.
We have some sympathy for the YHA as we know that the financial circumstances of the charity have been troubled in recent years. However we expect a charity such as the YHA to be willing to meet with the IWW so that we may represent the views and concerns of our members and discuss what needs to be done.
We understand that the Solidarity Federation is already helping workers seeking the living wage at the YHA and we are pleased that we have an opportunity to work with them on this important campaign.
We invite all YHA staff to join the IWW so that we can represent a growing number of staff. To do so go to our web site, IWW.org.uk
We also encourage YHA members to contact the YHA Head Office and to ask that the charity make plain its response to the claims of staff and to begin the process of providing at least the living wage for all the staff they employ.
Frank Syratt
National Secretary IWW