“Business leaders should extend the generosity they grant themselves to their employees,’ said Council of Trade Unions
secretary Paul Goulter today.
The results of a survey released today shows that CEOs are enjoying their second largest pay rise in 10 years.
“The high wage/high skill economy New Zealand needs will not be achieved by widening the gap between rich and poor,
“said Paul Goulter.
“CEO salary increases are double the average salary increases of workers and increase the already existing trend for the
gap to widen.”
Paul Goulter said employers need to recognise that continuing to pay not only a higher salary to the chief executive but
consistently increasing these high salaries at a rate faster than their staff undermines cooperation and productivity.
“Employers constantly tell their workers that their pay increases should be tied to the level of success of the
business,” he said.
“We don’t see New Zealand businesses are not particularly successful, but we do see CEOs awarding pay rises to
themselves.
“CEOs need to show leadership and reward not just their own efforts, but the efforts of the workers that make their
businesses successful.”