Hutt City Council agrees to pay staff a living wage

Staff will have their pay put up to $20.55 from July 1. Photo / File

Hutt City Council has agreed to pay its staff the living wage.

Councillors voted in favour of introducing a living wage for all staff in a meeting of its Community Plan Committee on Wednesday night.

The decision means 230 council staff will see their pay bumped to $20.55 from July 1 this year.

The move comes after a survey of Hutt City residents found 49 per cent of those who responded wanted a living wage introduced this year.

New Zealand Public Service Association (PSA) organiser Christine Pattison said it was great to see the council had listened to its ratepayers.

"It had initially been reluctant to make this move, however a survey of council constituents has clearly been enough to change councillor's minds," she said.

The council's consideration over whether to pay its staff a living wage had been weighed against its desire to remain cost-effective.

"In the end the council has listened to the will of the people, some of whom are the very council workers who will benefit from a fairer wage."

The positive decision over wages had been the result of a combined effort by the PSA, and the Hutt City living wage movement working with the council, she said.

The wage decision would also have a knock-on benefit for the wider Hutt City community.

"Council employees who will now be paid the living wage will feel more financially secure and won't have to work two jobs to make ends meet.

"The children of these workers are also likely to have a greater level of opportunity than before.

"These workers will also have more disposable income to be able to plough back into the local economy.

Hutt City Council has joined the ranks of Wellington City Council, Auckland City Council and Greater Wellington Regional Councils in paying its staff the living wage.