MEDIA RELEASE
23 May 2005
Pay Benchmark at Five Per Cent
Five per cent has become the benchmark for pay rises in 2005 with unions reporting pay settlements of that figure or
higher, Council of Trade Unions president Ross Wilson said today.
He rejected claims by the Employers and Manufacturers Association that unions’ 5 per cent campaign had failed.
“There have been many, many settlements over 5 per cent,” Ross Wilson said. “Workers now expect a decent pay rise and
are demanding their fair share of economic growth.”
Union members, such as the Auckland bus drivers, have also had huge public support for what were seen as fair and
reasonable pay demands
There was a lot of evidence that 5 per cent was a reasonable and modest settlement figure that most businesses could
afford, he said.
“Profits are up, CEOs are getting rises of 5 per cent a year and the minimum wage has increased 5.3 per cent this year.”
The EMA’s claim of unions using standover tactics was ridiculous, Ross Wilson said.
“The EMA should grow up and stop playing games. Workers are exercising their legal right to strike and decisions on when
settlement should be reached are made by union members themselves.”
ENDS