We attended a presentation and discussion on a regional launch of the Living Wage Campaign hosted by the Wellington Anglican diocese and Tawa Baptists in the Tawa College Hall. The evening was introduced with a video about how individuals in the US had been assisted back into the workplace and the impact his had had on their lives.
Then there was then a presentation on how the Living Wage of $18.41 for Wellington and $23.11 in Auckland had been devised. The Living Wage assumes 1.5 fulltime employment for a family of 4. 33% of wage earners earn less than the Living Wage. This compares with the minimum wage of $13.75 (and from 1 May a youth rate of 80% of that ie $11.00). Attendees were encouraged to ask retailers if they were prepared to pay, or move towards, the Living Wage and give our support or otherwise to those businesses.