Manchester United and Arsenal among clubs who don’t pay real living wage to all staff

Manchester United and Arsenal are among the Premier League clubs that don’t pay their staff the real living wage, a new report has revealed.

The real living wage is set by the Living Wage Foundation charity, and is higher than the legal minimum wage. After an increase on Thursday, staff that work for a side in a London borough will earn £11.95 an hour, and staff outside of London will earn £10.90.

Eight clubs do not pay that to permanent and casual matchday staff, or couldn’t confirm that they do. According to the BBC, the Red Devils and Arsenal are among those eight sides.

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United, Southampton and Arsenal are the only three sides who can confirm they don’t currently pay that rate to all their caterers, cleaners and stewards.

The Red Devils currently pay their staff at least the National Living Wage of £9.50 an hour for those over 23s – a flat rate that won’t change until April 2023. However, United added they would continue with their commitment to pay the real living wage to permanent staff.

Arsenal pay the majority of their employees the real living wage, but third-party catering staff receive the National Living Wage. While Southampton pay 10p above the National Living Wage to all employees.

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Chelsea, Everton, Liverpool, Brighton, West Ham and Crystal Palace are Living Wage Foundation-accredited employers, and they pay the real living wage to all their staff – including third-party contractors. Newcastle United are said to be in the process of joining.

Manchester City, Brentford, Fulham, Leicester and Wolves all told the BBC they pay the real living wage, despite not being part of the foundation.

Living Wage Foundation director Katherine Chapman told the BBC: “It’s great clubs are paying the real living wage but we would love to see more and it would be great to see more clubs accredited because that is a signal of long-term commitment.

“We all know that the success of matches and the success of the Premier League depends on staff like cleaners, security guards and caterers. So it’s really important that they’re part of that reward package.”

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