Living Wage media release

3 September 2018

Wellington City Council becomes first Living Wage Council in NZ

The 2018 Living Wage Employer list has been released today, with Wellington City Council becoming the first Living Wage council in New Zealand.

Wellington City Council joins 110 accredited Living Wage Employers on the 2018 list of businesses and organisations committed to paying the Living Wage to all workers, including those employed by contractors.

Wellington City Council’s Living Wage journey began in 2013, when an alliance of faith groups, community organisations and unions began the campaign to win the Living Wage for all workers.

That goal has now finally been achieved and over 1600 workers in the Wellington City Council workforce can celebrate.

Other new Living Wage Employers announced today include businesses from one end of the country to the other from Karma Cola, and Mangere East Primary School in Auckland, to Chia drinks in Nelson, Mr Peacock in Akaroa, Thunderpants in Martinborough, and Ocula in Wanaka.

The current Living Wage rate is $20.55.

Living Wage Convenor, Annie Newman, says that Wellington City Council’s leadership has already transformed the lives of hundreds of Wellington families.

“For a lot of people, it’s the difference that allows them to reduce long working hours and spend time with their families, to purchase a reliable car for night shift work, and to buy clothes for their children. The announcement today means everyone benefits at the council, including the workers employed by contractors.”

Annie says that, while Wellington City Council are the first, they won’t be the last Living Wage council in New Zealand. Already Auckland and Christchurch are celebrating today significant steps towards being Living Wage councils.

“Good on Wellington City Council, and all of the other accredited Living Wage Employers, for showing everyone how it’s done.”

http://img.scoop.co.nz/media/pdfs/1809/2018_Living_Wage_Employers.pdf

ENDS

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