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Published: 3 September, 2010
by TOM FOOT

TOWN Hall chiefs  could take a lead role in organising campaigns and protest marches to name and shame firms that fail to pay staff a fair wage.

An ambitious bid to close the gap between rich and poor in Islington will be discussed at a meeting  of Islington Council’s Fairness Commission on the Andover estate in Holloway on Tuesday. 

Councillors are planning to introduce radical policies to combat pay inequality and the chronic shortage of affordable housing.

The commission is chaired by Richard Wilkinson, co-author of The Spirit Level, a book that has stirred political debate internationally.

Labour councillor Andy Hull, vice-chairman of the commission, said: “Successive councillors have tried to crack the problem but nothing has been solved. We want concrete policy solutions. 

“Take income, for example. At the meeting we will be looking at how we can make sure the living wage is being paid right across Islington. 

“We can make sure that the local authority’s sub-contractors are paying the living wage. Then we can look at ways of making sure the whole of Upper Street is paying the living wage. 

“We can look at ways of naming and shaming the companies that fail to pay staff the living wage. 

“We can help people mobilise. We will be looking at ways the council can exercise influence where it has no authority.”

Cllr Hull said the commission would look at ways of “clearing” Islington’s massive housing waiting list.

He added: “We have had our critics, but I am determined that the commission doesn’t end up a lot of wonks talking together to no concrete end. 

“There’s a bit of energy to this – we have had a large turnout at the first meeting. I think we’re onto something.”

Cllr Hull believes having Mr Wilkinson on board will boost the commission’s credibility with the public.

He said: “He’s come to Islington to develop a set of answers. 

“No good just identifying the problem. You’ve got to think what we’ve got to do about it. We’re trying to crack some pretty thorny problems.

“What Richard can do is ask some awkward and radical questions of the people running the public sector.

“The meeting is on the Andover estate. We want Richard to see for himself the nature of the problem here in Islington. The next meeting is in the boardroom of Slaughter & May in the City – because part of the question is how you carry the wealthy with you.”

Tuesday’s meeting is in the Andover Estate Community Centre from 7pm.