ACORN members in Brighton turned up the heat with over a dozen actions for renters’ and workers’ rights in one weekend!
Following the new Renters’ Rights Act coming into force on 1st May, members took to the streets and reminded Brighton landlords and letting agents that ACORN are watching, before launching the branches new campaign against companies branding themselves as “Living Wage” while paying staff poverty wages.
“With the end of Section 21 approaching, landlords across the country have been scrambling to hike rents and force tenants out before the new protections kick in. So we visited 10 letting agents with 3 simple demands: respect the spirit of the new law, stop exploitative practices, and operate in good faith with tenants.
Only ONE signed. The rest made their position clear, and tenants across Brighton will remember it.”
“We then launched our latest campaign against fake “Living Wage” employers. Brighton Chamber’s Living Wage campaign allows businesses to brand themselves as “Living Wage” employers while paying staff poverty wages.
After two years of research, ACORN found at least 8 Brighton businesses advertising jobs below the real Living Wage – including one below the legal minimum wage!
One of those employers was the Brighton i360, so we brought the pressure directly to them. Management quickly agreed to further talks with ACORN, and we’ll keep pushing until workers get the pay they deserve.
When tenants and workers organise together, we win.”
ACORN is fighting to take back power for working people across England and Wales. Join us!