Youth Rates Smashed Up
Today in Manners Mall young workers smashed a giant fast-food cup, decorated with the brands of some of the New Zealand
companies that paid young workers less than adults, in a protest against youth rates.
About sixty people, young and old, attended the rally that was organised by the Wellington Youth Union Movement, and
Unite Union. It is part of the Supersizemypay campaign, and was aimed both at the companies that paid younger workers
less, and the government that let them.
"Ruth Dyson, Minister of Labour, said that if an a 17 year old was doing the same job as someone older then they could
get equal wages if their employer was a good employer. She obviously hasn't been in a real workplace for a very long
time - 17 year olds regularly do exactly the same job as those older than them, and good employers are as common as
unicorns." said Grace Millar, Unite Secretary.
A young cafe worker talked about her experience: she was paid $6.30 an hour to work as a barista and was expected to
train older workers who were paid twice as much as her. Sue Bradford, Greens Industrial Relations Spokesperson,
condemned youth rates, and said that the Greens were putting forward a private members bill to eliminate youth rates.
ENDS