October 17, 2005
Media Releases
Wages campaign not driving inflation
The latest consumer price index, out today, shows that wage pressure is having little impact on inflation, says the
union leading the Fair Share – Five in ’05 wages campaign.
Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union national secretary Andrew Little said that latest figures showing that the
CPI rose 1.1 per cent for the quarter had more to do with skyrocketing petrol prices that rising wages.
“Wages in New Zealand are too low and we’ve got to address that,” he said.
“There has been a lot of scaremongering coming from certain quarters about rising wages pushing up inflation. Today’s
statistics shows that that is not the case. New Zealand workers deserve decent wages, and they are getting together to
make sure they achieve them.”
Statistics released earlier this month showed that household incomes are up 5.8 per cent.
Mr Little said that the union would be considering the latest CPI figures in formulating wage claims.
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