23 May 2012
CTU backs campaign for a Living Wage
CTU welcomes the campaign for a living wage launched today by the Service and Food Workers Union Nga Ringa Tota.
CTU President Helen Kelly says "we know that ordinary, hard working Kiwi's are struggling to make ends meet and we're
looking forward to being involved in this new grass roots movement to lift pay."
“Many people talk about the need to lift pay – but often little is done. We need a real commitment to decent jobs in
New Zealand and lifting pay requires improvements in the minimum wage, improvements in collective bargaining coverage,
sharing the benefits of productivity improvements, and a real recognition that the huge inequalities of income are
unjustified and must be addressed”.
Helen Kelly says "living wage campaigns have been successful overseas and will be here. We are right behind the
campaign, but most importantly, we are joining others in the wider community who are showing strong support for the
living wage."
"The 'zero budget' will not do enough to support low paid workers and their families. The government has made choices
that have only made inequalities worse - the tax changes that gave tax cuts to those on high incomes, also hit lower
income families with a hike to GST. And wage increases have not matched price increases."
"Now, in the recently announced employment law changes, the government are deliberately undermining collective
bargaining which could lift wages, protect job conditions and reduce inequality in New Zealand."
ENDS