6 November 2011

English admits workers can’t survive on National’s minimum wage

The Service Workers Union Ngā Ringa Tota said today that Bill English’s admission that people can’t live on the minimum wage showed National is prepared to condemn thousands of working families to poverty.

When asked if people can live on the current minimum wage, Bill English said on TV3’s Q&A programme this morning: “People can live on that for a short time. A long time on the minimum wage is pretty damn tough.”

“The low paid workers who clean Bill English’s office would be pleased to hear him acknowledge that people can’t live on the minimum wage,” said SFWU National Secretary John Ryall.

“But they would be shocked to hear him imply that working for the minimum wage is something workers have to put up with for a short time.”

John Ryall said minimum wage work was the long-term experience for thousands and thousands of workers.

John Key’s own cleaner has been in the job for nearly 20 years and, even though she is a supervisor, is still only on $14 — one dollar more than the minimum wage of $13 an hour. The rest of the Parliamentary cleaning workforce recently moved from $13 to $13.50.

The SFWU represents 23,000 workers who cook, clean and care for New Zealanders.

“The reality is that very low pay is not temporary for our members,” said John Ryall. “Thousands of our members earn on or close to the minimum wage and the Minister of Finance has told them that is not enough to live on.”

John Ryall said Bill English was right on one count.

“Workers cannot live on wages on or close to the minimum wage. They can no longer feed their families or pay their bills. Bill English has admitted this. How then can his party justify the current level of the minimum wage?”

AUTHORISED BY SERVICE AND FOOD WORKERS UNION, 35-39 GEORGE STREET, KINGSLAND, AUCKLAND

ENDS

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