12 March 2006
CTU calls on major employers to show leadership on youth rates
“Major employers should join BP in leading the end to the discrimination against young workers in wage rates” CTU
president Ross Wilson said today.
“Research evidence and public opinion are clear” he said. “Business scaremongering about the negative impact of
abolishing youth rates is unfounded, and the public want to see this blatant discrimination ended.”
“The CTU is developing an industrial campaign aimed at eliminating youth rates from all employment agreements” Ross
Wilson said. “We will be launching that campaign later this month.”
“The EPMU and BP have set the benchmark with the agreement this week to wipe out youth rates at all BP owned service
stations throughout New Zealand.”
“Other major employers should follow that leadership and abolish youth rates discrimination before the law requires them
to.” Ross Wilson said.
Young workers in the Unite Union’s SuperSizeMyPay.Com campaign are leading a campaign in fast food outlets such as
Burger King, KFC and Starbucks. Young workers are not happy with being paid inferior rates to their older workmates, and
they see no reason why at 16 or 17 they should not be paid the same as a 19 year old doing the same job.
“Their campaign has the active support of all other unions representing more than 350,000 union members and their
families in all parts of New Zealand.” Ross Wilson. “Employers can expect it to grow into a national campaign over the
next few months.”
ENDS