Our Catholic communities turned out in great numbers and joined together with a long roll call of Living Wage Movement members for the Living Wage National Election Forum on 2 September. We heard moving stories of people living on incomes below the living wage and the impact on their lives—the ability to feed and spend time with their family and to enjoy the simple things in life that most of us take for granted.
Fr Gerard Burns spoke on behalf of the Faith communities. He amplified the voices of cleaners, caretakers, caterers and other workers who do essential work to support us all, in our schools, hospitals and other workplaces. Connecting Catholic Social Teaching principles of Human Dignity and the Common Good to this justice issue resonated powerfully with the audience.
The politicians who came responded and Fr Jeff Drane SM invited a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answer to specific commitments to extend the reach of the Living Wage if elected into government.
On September 1 the living wage hourly rate rose to $29.90. There is an almost $6 gap between the minimum wage and the living wage.
Check out Living Wage Aotearoa New Zealand for more:
