University of Auckland Living Wage Network
On Tuesday, 21th of October, at 1pm the University of Auckland Living Wage Network is holding rally calling on the
University of Auckland to become the first New Zealand Living Wage University, by paying all staff, both
directly-employed and contracted staff, a living wage of $18.80.
All over the world, communities are uniting to address poverty and inequality through living wage campaigns. Living Wage
Aotearoa New Zealand is a community-coalition group organising around the common goal of achieving a Living Wage of
$18.80
According to the Living Wage Aotearoa New Zealand Campaign, “A living wage is the income necessary to provide workers
and their families with the basic necessities of life. A living wage will enable workers to live with dignity and to
participate as active citizens in society”
Right here at the University of Auckland, many workers are paid well below the Living Wage of $18.80. Cleaners, some of
whom have worked for over 20 years and are vital to making our environment beneficial for teaching, learning, and
research, are paid 14.60 an hour - only just above the minimum wage.
The University of Auckland Living Wage Network brings together concerned communities and calls on the University of
Auckland to lead the way and establish a living wage for all who work on our campus; both directly-employed and
contracted staff.
Associate Professor from the History Department Jennifer Frost explains that workers ‘should be paid enough to live on
[and] these are people who are working full-time’.
Frost also suggests that the University of Auckland could ‘take on the title’ as the first living wage university.
‘Given that we like to think of ourselves as the leading University in New Zealand, what a wonderful way to lead on a
moral issue’.
At the rally we’ll hear from members of the community, academic staff and students. There will also be a BBQ, provided
by the Tertiary Education Union (TEU).
Speaker at the rally include:
Jennifer Frost, History Department
Father Bernie, Newman Centre
Nathalie Jaques, Reclaim the University
Campbell Jones, Sociology
Mark Amsler, Tertiary Education Union (TEU),
Tracey McIntosh, Sociology Department
Yvette Taylor, Living Wage Campaign Aotearoa
There will also be music by the Crescendo Trust of Aotearoa, a group that ‘provides a development programme for young
New Zealanders that nurtures, empowers and gives lifelong musicianship skills through mentoring, personal development,
and training in music across all genres’.
The event is supported by: Tertiary Education Union (TEU) and Auckland University Pacific Island Students Association
(AUPISA)
When: 1pm, October 21 (Tuesday)
Where: The Quad
What: Rally in support of the University of Auckland becoming the first Living Wage University, by paying all staff, both
directly-employed and contracted staff, a Living Wage of $18.8
‘Like’ and share our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/UoALivingWageNetwork
For more information about our campaign, featuring speakers from our ‘teach-in’ event, see a recent article published
here: www.tewahanui.info/index.php/university-workers-campaign-for-a-living-wage/
ENDS