Minimum wage increase will help fuel wage growth

December 19, 2006
Media Release

The 9.8% increase in the minimum wage will have a strong flow-on effect in 2007’s bargaining round, says the union that led the Fair Share 5% in ’05 campaign.

The 50,000 member Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union is currently planning its next wage campaign, due to be launched in New Plymouth on the 21st February 2007.

Since the launch of the Fair Share campaign, wages in New Zealand have grown faster than at any time in the last fifteen years, and the EPMU is aiming to continue the trend in the new year.

EPMU National Secretary Andrew Little says the increased minimum wage will be a key factor in setting the next wage target.

“We will look at a range of drivers including economic growth rates, inflation and productivity, and the introduction of Kiwisaver will also play a strong part in our deliberations.

“Currently the wages of working families are still much lower than they should be, especially when increases in housing and petrol costs and high interest rates are taken into account, and it’s up to unions to make sure this changes.

“2007 will see us continuing our campaign to get a fair share for Kiwi workers and building on the gains we’ve made in the last two years.”

In the last year EPMU members have won wage increases averaging 4.3% across eleven different industries.

ENDS

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