Workers sign-up for huge campaign for the Living Wage

More than 170 Hawkes' Bay retail workers stopped work this week to sign-up to support a campaign to pay people the Living Wage.

As part of FIRST Union's stop work meetings at 58 locations around the country, retail workers signed a huge banners in support of the three tenets of the union's Worth It campaign, which calls on employers in the retail industry to pay workers the Living Wage of $20.55 an hour, give workers enough hours to live on, and ensure that as the minimum wage increases.

FIRST Union General Secretary Dennis Maga said more than 170 members stopped work to attended a two-hour meeting to sign a huge 10-metre by 6-metre banner at three meetings in Napier and Hastings over the past two days.

"It actually exceeded our expectations, so we're very much happy about that," Maga said.

Meetings in Napier and Hastings yesterday (Wednesday) coincided with an announcement from DIY giant Bunnings Warehouse that it would pay union members $20.55 an hour, a lift in base rates of $2 per hour for most.

"I think a lot of our members were really excited, especially after hearing Bunnings' announcement of the Living Wage," Maga said.

FIRST Union has 12,500 members across the country working in the retail industry, but the campaign is aimed at transforming a large chunk of the working sector to better the lives of almost 20 per cent of the New Zealand workforce who are at risk of insecure and/or low-paid jobs.

"It's hoped employers who've not yet adopted ethical business practices will take note of the support for the campaign.

"This is a big demonstration to illustrate how much our workers want to live happy and healthy lives. Masses of people are struggling, retail makes up almost 20 per cent of New Zealand's workforce. If we can make this sector fair, it will go a long way to bettering the lives hundreds of thousands of families."

Retail workers were some of the lowest paid in any sector.

"If we consider median, not average figures, it becomes obvious why many people are struggling to make ends meet and this is made all the more frustrating by what is a booming retail industry in New Zealand, it's not like the money's not there."

The Living Wage concept is calculated independently each year by the New Zealand Family Centre Social Policy Unit.

It is the hourly wage a worker needs to pay for the necessities of life and participate as an active citizen in the community, reflecting the basic expenses of workers and their families such as food, transportation, housing and childcare.