Protest over wages for Olympics

London Citizens want the ODA to stick to its agreement

Campaigners for a London-weighted minimum wage have protested that commitments made in the 2012 Olympic bid have been broken.

They say the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) has reneged on a deal to offer the Living Wage, set at £7.05 an hour.

The ODA signed an agreement with the London Citizens' alliance prior to their successful Olympic bid in 2005.

But the ODA said it stands by the deal in which it promises to encourage contractors to pay the Living Wage.

The Living Wage campaign seeks to ensure a level of pay and conditions that enables a full-time worker to provide adequately for themselves and their family.

The problem with the verbal assurance is that it's a very shady business Gregory Nichols London Citizens

The ODA agreement said: "We recognise the contribution that the London living wage can play in enabling us to deliver our regenerative aspirations.

"We will monitor whether this is delivered."

David Higgins, chief executive of the ODA, reaffirmed the authority's commitment to the agreement.

"There is a commitment to it in all our documents," he said.

"But the most important thing is not to unravel the national working agreements put in place between the industry and the unions over many years.

"And on this site, we have to have order in the process of how industrial relations are dealt on site."

'Concrete agreement'

But protesters outside the London Chamber of Commerce in the City where Olympic business was on the agenda, said they want a formal agreement.

"The problem with the verbal assurance is that it's a very shady business," said Gregory Nichols, of London Citizens.

"We would like a more concrete agreement like a public signing."

The London Development Agency (LDA) is working with the five east London boroughs affected by the Games, to ensure local people can access jobs and skills from the event.

An initial £9.6m will be invested in skills training and job brokerage services, the ODA said.