John Key out of step on Living Wage

Mayor Len Brown’s commitment today to implement a Living Wage will be welcomed by low wage workers up and down the country, says Darien Fenton, Labour’s associate Labour spokesperson.

“The Mayor is showing how it’s done, with a full costing presented in the budget to Council and an implementation plan over three years.

“It is great that the Living Wage will apply to staff employed by Councillors and Council-controlled organisations. But some of the lowest paid will be workers employed by contractors doing council work and that will need attention as well.

“The commitment of Mayor Len Brown and many councillors to implement a Living Wage keeps pace with Conservative mayors like Boris Johnston in the UK. Even the Conservative Party has a growing group (Tories for the Living Wage) now calling on David Cameron to support a Living Wage.

“That’s because paying a Living Wage makes sense.  It not only improves living standards for workers and their families, but has economic benefits, such as improved productivity and reduced turnover and absenteeism.

“Sadly, while Local Government leads the way, the National Government has its head in the sand. John Key has bent over backwards to discredit the growing Living Wage movement and Labour’s support for it.

“Worse still they have presented no alternatives at a time when families are struggling more than ever and inequality is growing in New Zealand.  Forty per cent of the children living in poverty in New Zealand come from working families,” says Darien Fenton.

—