CELTIC Football Club are under intense pressure from campaigners, trade unions and politicians to increase the pay of their staff after the board recommended refusing to introduce a living wage.
Shareholders have been advised to reject paying around 120 staff a minimum of £7.65 when the club holds its annual general meeting next month
A fans' group representing some small shareholders has lodged a resolution for the AGM to implement the Living Wage, which is £1.05-per-hour more than the minimum wage for workers over 21.
It emerged last week that Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell has received nearly £1million in annual salary, around £400,000 of which was in bonuses.
The Scottish champions also announced in September they had made an £11.2million pre-tax profit last season despite a significant drop in revenue.
The club has claimed it is an "excellent employer and engages with staff at all levels", adding it is the only UK club to achieve Investors In People status. At last year's agm, chairman Ian Bankier claimed it would cost Celtic around £500,000 to implement the Living Wage.
Retail, ticketing, catering and stewarding staff, including many who are full time, would be the expected beneficiaries.
Representatives of the Scottish Living Wage Campaign have called on the club to reverse the recommendation.
Peter Kelly, chairman of the campaign and head of Poverty Alliance, said: "We know that Celtic are a rich club and can afford to ensure their staff aren't paid poverty wages.
"Two thirds of children in Scotland in poverty are in working households and the Living Wage is one of the best ways to help lift these families out of poverty."
Dave Moxham, deputy general secretary of the STUC, said: "It's an enormous disappointment, given its wage structure, that it's not been seen fit to mete out better treatment to Celtic's hard-working employees."
Labour MSP James Kelly said: "I hope Celtic listen to the growing campaign, think again, and use their status as a world famous football club to show the benefits of better, fairer pay."
The Celtic Trust, which is behind the resolution, said: "We know Celtic are doing very well financially.
"Our own chief executive pocketed pennies short of £1million this year and yet they are refusing to pay the lowest paid the relatively small sum of £7.65. "
In response to the resolution, the Celtic board said: "The company offers a competitive range of employee benefits, including a bonus scheme for all permanent employees, with up to 20 per cent achievable by even the most junior of colleagues.
"We also offer a pension scheme with generous employer contributions starting at 7 per cent of salary, a comprehensive company sick pay scheme, life assurance for all permanent staff, and a range of free or discounted medical and healthcare schemes."
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