Final push for $15 minimum wage referendum

22 March, 2010

The EPMU is making one final push to help the Unite Union collect the 300,000 signatures it needs to force a citizens' initiated referendum on lifting the minimum wage to $15 an hour.

So far Unite has collected around 150,000 signatures, but another 150,000 are needed over the next six weeks to make the referendum happen.

Public opinion polls show a healthy majority in favour of lifting the minimum wage to $15 an hour.

EPMU assistant national secretary Bill Newson says a referendum on the minimum wage is a great organising issue for unions in NZ society.

"Unite has done a great job to get over half the signatures required, but the deadline to get to 300,000 is quickly closing.

"This is an issue that has huge potential for the whole union movement and it's going to take an effort from the whole union movement to get the petition over the line. As the largest private sector union the EPMU has an important role to play in that.

"Over the next six weeks our organisers will be undertaking a major organising drive to get petitions out at every site they visit and every membership meeting they attend.

"We're also highlighting the importance of the petition at our delegate forums and we're encouraging delegates to get copies out to every worker on their site, whether union or non-union.

"It'll be hard work, but it's worth the effort to make it a success."

You can download a copy of the petition from the EPMU website here. If you have any questions or want an organiser to come out to your workplace and hold a signing contact the Union Support Centre on 0800 1 UNION / 0800 186 466.