A Labour councillor spoke out yesterday over a “surprise move” by his SNP colleague to publicly demand a living wage for all Moray Council sub-contractors.
On Wednesday, Elgin City North councillor Patsy Gowans called for the £7.65-an-hour rate to be paid to all employees of companies and third sector organisations working in partnership with the authority.
Councillor John Divers said he was shocked by the plea because the Scottish Government quashed a Labour amendment to make the living wage part of all public sector contracts in May.
Mr Divers urged Moray SNP members to work together with Labour and the Greens to fight for the right at a national level.
He said: “I was surprised at this move by Councillor Gowans. Her party knows full well that SNP MSPs joined forces with the Tories to defeat a Labour amendment in May that does exactly what she calls for.
“I suggest she and the Moray SNP stand shoulder to shoulder with the Labour Party and the Green Party to lobby Nicola Sturgeon for the living wage for all public workers – regardless of who their contract is with. Then maybe she will listen.”
A spokesman for the SNP said: “Anyone who has heard Patsy Gowans speak in Moray’s Council chamber knows that she is a staunch defender of the rights of low paid workers and that she is always seeking to improve those rights and their conditions of employment.
“Labour are doing what they always do and attacking the SNP for something that they should be welcoming.”