EPMU launches Wage Drive campaign

11 July, 2008

The EPMU will hold 25 mass rallies across New Zealand in August as part of its Work Rights Wage Drive campaign launched on Tuesday, July 1.

The rallies will involve the EPMU's members from Invercargill to Kaitaia and aim to raise public awareness about the importance of work rights and higher wages this election.

EPMU national secretary Andrew Little says the job of lifting living standards and incomes never stops, and at the heart of this is strong work rights.

"The strength of people's work rights directly affects their wages, whether it's having the employment security to ask for a pay rise, the collective bargaining rights to raise wages through campaigns like Fair Share 5% in '05, or Kiwisaver and regular increases in the minimum wage.

"At a time when Kiwis are feeling the pinch from higher prices and political parties are talking about closing the wage gap with Australia it's important to understand we just won't improve the situation without strong work rights.

"New Zealand's wages are still recovering from the last time our work rights were stripped from us and we don't want to see it happen again.

"That's why we'll be challenging parties to provide detailed policies on work rights and wages and encouraging every one of our members to think very carefully before they vote in this year's election."

For more information about the Work Rights Wage Drive, including a schedule and photos from the launch visit www.workrights.org.nz or call the Union Support Centre on 0800 1 UNION.