4 July 2013

Hamilton City Council urged not to give up on Living Wage

The Public Service Association is urging the Hamilton City Council not to give up on introducing the living wage, saying it will be a campaign issue in this year’s local government elections.

After becoming the first Council in the country to recommend the adoption of the living wage, Hamilton City councillors have narrowly voted against the earlier proposal.

“It’s a shame that Hamilton has not taken the same route as the Wellington City Council which is to agree to the living wage in principle, and then work on developing a comprehensive plan on how it can be rolled out over time,” says PSA National Secretary Brenda Pilott.

“It has missed an opportunity to show that it is a fair employer and wants to take meaningful steps towards lifting low wages.”

The PSA says any move to introducing the living wage must include an agreement to extend it to council contractors if it is to make a real difference.

Brenda Pilott says local councils are in a position to lead the way on the living wage and there is a lot of community support for it.

“We would urge all councils to commit to the living wage in principle and then carefully work on how it can be costed and implemented over a period of time.”

“This is an issue which is not going to go away and will be an important campaign issue going into local body elections later in the year.”

ENDS

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