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

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