Wellington Regional Council Becomes a Living Wage employer

Councillor Sue Kedgley said she was delighted that the Wellington Regional Council unanimously adopted her motion to become a Living Wage employer, making it the first regional council in New Zealand to do so.

"It's great to see Wellington leading the way in terms of implementing the Living Wage, with four Councils in the region now on the journey to become fully accredited Living Wage employers. "

"If we can afford to give wage increases to staff at senior levels of the organisation, then we should be able to afford to give a very modest increase to staff on low incomes, so that they can afford the basic necessities of life.

Ms Kedgley said she hoped the resolution would send a strong signal to Council contractors that Council expected them to be good employers and not use the contracting process to reduce the pay and conditions of staff.

"That is obviously important in the context of the contracting out of our bus services and the concerns and fears expressed by bus drivers.

Ms Kedgley noted that all directly employed full time staff in the Council were already paid a Living wage.

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