August 2008

Comment

There is now widespread recognition that wages need to rise in New Zealand. The CTU has identified a number of measures that are needed to lift wages on a sustainable basis. These include: increasing the minimum wage to two-thirds of the average wage; amending employment law to strengthen collective bargaining particularly in relation to promoting industry and multi-employer base documents; greater support (including institutional forms) for union capacity to deliver improved wages for workers; the implementation of good employer and responsible contractor policies in the State sector, and an ongoing programme to deliver for women equal pay for work of equal value. We also support higher wages through more investment in skills, plant, machinery and technology alongside improved workplace practices to boost productivity.

These measures will help address the structural issues that underpin embedded low wages. In the short run however the pressure on the pay packet has been made worse by high food and petrol prices.

The CTU submits annually to the Department of Labour on the review of the minimum wage.Download the CTU's submission from October 2007, as a word document or PDF below.  The introduction and executive summary are also below on this page.

As part of the campaign this year to Make Low Wages History [16], the CTU released a report on low wages in New Zealand to mark Labour Day 2006, setting out what we think needs to be done to address poverty wages.

Speech - NZCTU Secretary Carol Beaumont
SuperSizeMyPay.Com/Unite Union Public Meeting To End Low Wages
Auckland Town Hall, 2pm Sunday February 12 2005.

Kia ora koutou katoa. Thanks for the opportunity to speak with you today and well done for putting on such a good meeting!