Microsoft’s move to new offices on the CB1 development near Cambridge railway station could set the standard for fair pay in the city, says Cambridge Labour Parliamentary spokesperson Daniel Zeichner. While attention in the campaign for a living wage in Cambridge has so far focused on public employers like councils and universities, Mr Zeichner says that this is a great opportunity for a world-renowned company to set a lead:

 “We are all delighted that Microsoft is one of the iconic companies moving to CB1 -; but what a chance for them to make a clear promise this week that everyone who works there will be paid enough to live on. Not just the directly employed staff, but the cleaners, the caretakers the caterers and the maintenance staff -; for a company like Microsoft, seven pounds forty five pence an hour can hardly be an insurmountable obstacle. Many of us work in offices where we have little idea about the lives of those who clean and maintain the building, with even less idea about whether they are properly paid. Paying below the living wage just shifts the burden onto the general tax-payer -; so I’m calling on Microsoft to set a lead, with the ultimate aim of making Cambridge a living wage city.”