Wimbledon Councillor Slams Tennis Tournament Over Wages


Figures show contractors at the AELTC won't receive London Living Wage

Around 4,000 workers at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships won't receive the full London Living Wage, according to new figures.

Councillor Carl Quilliam, Deputy Leader of the Lib Dem group, has slammed the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club (AELTC) for not ensuring contractors receive this wage.

However the Club states it supports the London Living Wage for the 1,000 workers it employs.

Councillor Quilliam says the London Living Wage is calculated to ensure workers can cover the cost of living in London and are not forced into poverty.

Figures from the AELTC uncovered by the local Lib Dems show 1,000 workers for the tournament receive a full London living wage of £10.20 an hour, while 4,000 contracted out workers receive the legal minimum of £7.83 - the National Living Wage.

Councillor Quilliam said: "With £39 million in profit last year alone AELTC should be able to afford an extra £2.37 an hour to ensure their temporary workers earn enough to live on.

"As a leading national and international tournament the Wimbledon brand is one that is known around the world - not just representing the best in tennis but representing the residents of Wimbledon, Merton and the UK as a whole.

"They should be taking a lead and showing what can be done by ensuring their contractors pay a full London living wage - not leaving 4000 of their workers to struggle on the minimum they are legally entitled to.”

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July 5, 2018