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Why don’t Marks & Spencers pay staff a Living Wage?
Marks & Spencer is supposed to be a company with solid values threaded through all that they do, which include paying your workers fairly. Just look at this group of amazing celebrities photographed by Annie Lebowitz all wearing M&S – they know how to reach out to every woman.
We’re sending these influential celebrities, board and shareholders carefully hand-stitched handkerchiefs to encourage the company not to ‘blow’ their chance to support life-changing decisions.
An online poll shows 17 percent of British shoppers would shop more often at Marks & Spencers if it paid staff a Living Wage. (Source: Opinium survey, 12th-16th June 2015, based on 2002 online interviews across the UK).
How Can You Help and Support this Creative Campaign?
The first “stitch-in” will take place on June 22 in London at 6:30 pm outside the Marks & Spencers on Liverpool Road, N1 0PR. Another “stitch-in” is scheduled for June 23rd at 6.30pm in Cardiff, another in Brighton on June 29th, and another in Brentwood (tbc). There will also be stitch-ins in Glasgow, Manchester, Lincoln, Edinburgh, and Birmingham amongst others. Stitch ins need to take place before July 7th.
How can a group of people stitching on M&S hankies help?
Each unique hand-stitched hanky encourages board directors of M&S to commit to paying the Living Wage of £9.15 in London and £7.85 across the UK to all staff. This is a part of ShareAction’s campaign in partnership with Citizens UK to achieve the Living Wage across the FTSE 100 through shareholder activism. Nearly a quarter of FTSE 100 companies have now accredited with the Living Wage Foundation, but no high street retailer has yet signed up. We want M&S to lead the way.
ShareAction has organised AGM questions on the Living Wage at more than 20 company AGMs so far this year. ShareAction is simultaneously mobilising an Investor Collaborative for the Living Wage made up of institutional shareholders with billions of pounds in British companies, including asset managers, pension funds, charity and faith investors. These large shareholders have written in 2015 to all of the FTSE 100, including M&S, in support of the Living Wage.
Crafters will be giving M&S handkerchiefs with personalised positive messages stitched into them to all 14 board members of M&S, as well as to its largest shareholders, and to the 2014 celebrities who feature in the company’s ad campaign that we have listed below along with their Twitter handles.
What do you consider a living wage is? don’t disagree with your argument but the wages issue could apply to most retailers. At least ( I think ) they don’t have Zero Hours contracts.
M&S used to have core values but like everyone else profit is what guides them not social Issues.
Good luck like to see it work.
What time is the one in Milton Keynes on 30th?
Have I missed the one in Birmingham?