After a decade of campaigning, lobbying, election forums, and members sharing their stories, we have finally won the Living Wage for all workers at Auckland Council!
The official announcement that Auckland Council has become an accredited Living Wage Employer was made during the celebration of another milestone – the 10th anniversary of the Living Wage Employer accreditation programme.
This means that everyone working at Auckland Council, whether employed directly or through contracted employers, now earns at least the 2024/25 Living Wage rate of $27.80.
Palu Vaitai, a cleaner at the Auckland Council offices, was there to celebrate this hard fought victory. She shared how important the Living Wage has been for her and her family.
Rachel Mackintosh, Palu Vaitai, and Auckland Councillor Julie Fairy
“Before, it was a struggle – a struggle to feed my family, a struggle to pay bills, and never any time for family. That always made me sad,” Palu said.
“This has changed now, thanks to everyone who fought hard for us. Getting paid the Living Wage has truly changed my life, as it has changed so many other lives. “When I started getting the Living Wage, I stopped needing one of my jobs, and I stopped working on the weekend. I can relax now and do things I was not able to do in the past. I can even go to watch rugby games with my family, which is lots of fun!”
Auckland Council now joins Wellington City Council, Christchurch City Council, Dunedin City Council, Hutt City Council, Porirua City Council, Kapiti Coast District Council, and Environment Canterbury (ECan) as Aotearoa’s Living Wage councils. Nearly 400 other businesses and organisations are also accredited!
We win the Living Wage at public institutions through community campaigns. When E tū members join with other unions, faith groups, and community organisations to tell decisionmakers that we expect them to use public money to pay fair wages, they have to listen!
