Living wage move must include lowest paid

The union representing many low paid contracted workers says councils seeking to implement a Living Wage should include their lowest paid workers, who are employed through contractors.

“It is great to see councils embracing the principle of the Living Wage and Mayor Len Brown’s announcement that he will propose the introduction of the Living Wage for Auckland Council,” said SFWU National Secretary John Ryall.

“But it is disappointing that the proposal does not apply to a large sector of the council workforce, particularly when they are the lowest paid and most in need of a Living Wage.”

John Ryall said workers like cleaners, security guards and waste workers were paid poverty wages and struggled to get by.

“We are talking about workers like Pauline, a council cleaner who told new Auckland City councillor Linda Cooper this week that she cannot afford for her kids to participate in sports like rugby and take part in school arts activities, simply because her pay is too low.

“We welcome Mayor Brown’s acknowledgement of the hardship workers and their families face living on the minimum wage in Auckland and his, and councillors, commitment to addressing this, but Auckland Council has a responsibility to ensure the lowest paid, who daily work to ensure Auckland City is clean and safe are not left behind.”

John Ryall said the Living Wage should be delivered to contracted workers through the tendering process, by requiring contractors to pay a Living Wage.

“All around the world cities which have become Living Wage cities have started the process by committing to a procurement process and ensuring contract workers are moved out of poverty. We will continue to call on Auckland council to do the same.”
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