In August, the Centre for Labour, Employment and Work (CLEW) at Victoria University released their annual analysis of collective employment agreements (CEAs). It shows again that people who are part of a collective get better pay rises: the union pay premium. For the year to June 2018 CLEW finds that on average wages in CEAs… Read more »
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It is often said that New Zealand has a low-wage economy in comparison to other high-income countries such as those in their club, the OECD. Business NZ recently disputed that. But there is strong evidence that New Zealand does have low wages. First, a comparison of the purchasing power of annual average wages for full-time… Read more »
Read more... “It’s good to see more jobs,” says CTU President Richard Wagstaff. “But the growth in wages is just happening too slowly.” “Working people need to see a more rapid rise in their pay because, since at least 2009, their wages have not kept up with the growth in the nation’s income. “It’s particularly siginficant, given… Read more »
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It’s a crucial part of the mythology around National Party Governments that they are “good economic managers”, as their new leader, Simon Bridges, is repeating. The business commentariat repeat it endlessly too. How true is this?
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Wages are important socially and economically, but wages are low in New Zealand. We are in a low wage rut, dependent on low wage industries like agriculture and tourism. Low wages contribute to New Zealand’s high income inequality which has many negative effects. We have evidence that high inequality can lead to social breakdown as… Read more »
Read more... Statistics New Zealand’s National Accounts (Income and Expenditure) data released today shows that working people are getting the smallest slice of the pie in New Zealand since 2006. “A generation ago, it was understood that the people doing the work created the wealth, which is why nearly 60 per cent of our national income sustained… Read more »
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The announcement that Auckland electricity and gas provider Vector has become a fully-accredited Living Wage employer is a landmark move says Council of Trade Unions President Richard Wagstaff. “While local authorities have received the most attention, initial support for the Living Wage in the private sector has come from small employers. So it is brilliant… Read more »
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In August, the Centre for Labour, Employment and Work (CLEW) at Victoria University released their annual analysis of collective employment agreements (CEAs). It shows again that people who are part of a collective get better pay rises: the union pay premium. For the year to June 2017 CLEW finds that on average wages in collectives… Read more »
Read more... The release of the September Consumer Price Index (CPI) by Statistics New Zealand shows that incomes are not keeping up with the cost of living. “Prices are rising faster than wages, and some of the biggest price rises are basic necessities for the lowest paid” said Sam Huggard, Council of Trade Unions Secretary.
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A new report on inequalities in wages, salaries and the income of the self-employed finds growing inequalities in the income they earned per hour over the period 1998 to 2015. To a reasonable approximation, two-thirds of employees are paid below the average wage and they received either very low wages or experienced low wage growth,… Read more »
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