Working for Families boost welcome

August 18, 2005

Working for Families boost welcome

Today’s announcement of extra tax relief for working families is welcome, says the country’s largest union.

Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union national secretary Andrew Little said that the $1.3 billion increase to the Working for Families package would benefit thousands of the union’s members.

“It will provide much-needed relief for working families, and is a better policy that across-the-board tax cuts,” he said.

“However, tax relief is no substitute for lifting the level of New Zealand wages, especially if New Zealand companies want to compete with those in Australia for workers.”

In February, the EPMU launched the Fair Share – Five in ’05 campaign to lift New Zealand wages.

ENDS

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