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CTU MEDIA RELEASE
22 October 2006

40 Hour Working Week Not A Reality for Many Low Wage Workers: CTU
- Low Wages Report Released Today To Mark Labour Day

“The 40 hour working week which was fought so hard for is not a reality for many low income workers,” CTU secretary Carol Beaumont said today.

“Years of rising economic growth and people working longer and longer hours have failed deliver a fair deal for all, and the CTU is marking Labour Day tomorrow with a call to action on low wages.”

“A fair minimum wage is one that is set at two thirds of the average wage, and we are calling for the minimum wage to be indexed at this level. In the meantime we need a $12 minimum wage now, not in 2008, and an end to youth rates.
"We acknowledge that this Labour-led government has increased the minimum wage by 46% since 1999 - in stark contrast to the National Party freezing it at $7 during its last years in office."

“Employers must take the lead too, and start sharing the benefits of economic growth by paying workers better wages.”

The CTU is launching a report today on low pay in New Zealand, as part of the union movement’s campaign this year to this year to address poverty wages in New Zealand.

“Unions have been very active this year in campaigning for justice in wages, for cleaners, for support staff, for hospital and aged care workers, factory workers and many other low income workers. Today’s report reflects on the strength ordinary working people have when they organise together in unions to get a fairer deal at work.”

“This Labour Day is time to reflect on what unions have achieved for working people over many years, and to recommit to ending poverty in this country through making low wages history,” Carol Beaumont said.
The CTU's report is here: http://www.union.org.nz/news/733.html .
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