Tauranga City Council disappoints by rejecting Living Wage – PSA
Tauranga council’s rejection of a living wage shows that it values its bottom line far more than its staff, the Public Service Association says.
This week, the council voted against paying its staff at least $19.25 an hour, which would cost an estimated $3.2 million a year.
PSA National Secretary Glenn Barclay says he’s deeply disappointed at the decision.
“The Living Wage allows workers and their families to live a decent life, and reflects basic expenses like food, transportation, housing and childcare,” says Mr Barclay.
“Newspaper reports frequently mention how the Auckland property boom has reached as far as Tauranga, and house prices and rents are spiralling.
“Tauranga Council’s sending a clear message it doesn’t care about the circumstances its workers live in – it’s just about the bottom line.”
Wellington City Council is in the process of implementing the Living Wage, while Porirua City is actively engaging on it.
“Councils need to be aware that adopting the Living Wage isn’t just a PR exercise – it’s the right thing to do.
“The PSA will continue to urge councils to make this commitment to the people who help deliver the services which make their communities great places to live.”
When I moved to the Bay of Plenty in 2000 I gathered from proud orchardists that they called it ‘Ten-Dollar-Tauranga’. They were not referring to the minimum wage, but to what an ordinary person could expect for an hour’s work.
What else would you expect in Tauranga, with it’s pallid and vanilla complexion. Be on notice New Zealand, the ” Talleys ” of Nelson, the ” tartan mafia of ” Dunedin, the “AT of ” Auckland , the ” Paula Bennetts” at the Speaker’s right , be advised since the ” fourth of February ” it is now ” the end of the beginning. ” It is payback time!