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Wage Increase Momentum Needs to Continue
CTU MEDIA RELEASE
07 August 2006
Wage Increase Momentum Needs to Continue
"With our wages 35% below
Australia, workers need to get organised and bargain
collectively in unions to achieve regular increases at above
the rate of inflation," Council of Trade Unions Economist
Peter Conway said today.
Latest wage statistics out today show private sector wages increased by 3% on average in the year to June 2006 compared with inflation of 4%. However, for those workers who actually got a wage increase last year, the average across the board was 5.4% and the median 4.2%.
"Workers are feeling the pinch with house prices outstripping wages, high transport and electricity costs, and a recent period of very high fruit and vegetable prices," Peter Conway said.
"It is important that we maintain the momentum of wage increases. If we are to address New Zealand's low wages problem we need wages to rise on a regular basis and at a decent level."
"Although the economy is slowing, and cost pressures have been rising, profits are still holding up in general," he said.
ENDS
New Zealand Council of Trade Unions
Te Kauae Kaimahi
The New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi brings together over 350,000 New Zealand union members in 40 affiliated unions. We are the united voice for working people and their families in New Zealand.
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