Regular readers of Watchdog will not be surprised to find us asserting that the Living Wage Campaign is a CAFCA issue - and not simply because we feel it would be “nice” to pay the Organiser something like a decent wage. Research into defining a Living Wage for NZ was conducted by Peter King and Charles Waldegrave of the Family Centre Social Policy Research Unit with the rationale of establishing, empirically, the level of remuneration that would enable workers and their families to be able to afford the necessities of life, live with dignity and participate as active citizens in society. The figure is $18.40 per hour.

A Handful Of Cheap Slogans

The movement campaigning for a living wage, Living Wage Aotearoa/New Zealand, was launched in Auckland in 2012 and brings together 130 community and faith-based organisations and unions concerned about growing poverty and inequality in New Zealand. The CAFCA and ABC Committees are proud to join with these groups and share their objectives – the right to live with dignity is fundamental and living with dignity is in large part solely dependent on having the resources – a living wage. The richest 150 people in New Zealand grew their wealth by 20% in 2010 while wages moved by less than 2%. Indeed New Zealand is ranked by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) as 23rd out of 30 developed countries for income inequality. And none, absolutely none, of this is the unintended consequences of Government policy. Neo-liberal economic dogma assumes that a handful of cheap slogans (all evidence to the contrary notwithstanding [Endnote 1]) are the answer to all the problems of economics and society, specifically:

• The Rule Of The Market. Liberating "free" enterprise or private enterprise from any restrictions imposed by the Government no matter how much social damage this causes. Greater openness to international trade and investment, for example the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA). Reduce wages by de-unionising workers and eliminating workers' rights that had been won over many years of struggle. No price controls. All in all, total freedom of movement for capital, goods and services. To convince us this is good for us, they say "an unregulated market is the best way to increase economic growth, which will ultimately benefit everyone". The trickle down theory.

• Cutting Public Expenditure For Social Services like education and health care. Reducing the safety net for the working poor and others who, through no fault of their own, find themselves needing assistance - again, all in the name of reducing Government's role. Of course, no neo-liberal dogmatist can be found opposing Government subsidies and tax benefits for business.

• Deregulation. Reduce Government regulation of everything that could diminish profits, including protecting the environment and safety on the job.

• Privatisation. Sell State-owned enterprises, goods and services to private investors. Although usually done in the name of greater efficiency, which is often needed, privatisation has mainly had the effect of concentrating wealth even more in a few hands and making the public pay even more for its needs.

• Eliminating The Concept Of "The Public Good" Or "Community" and replacing it with "individual responsibility". Pressuring the poorest people in a society to find solutions to their lack of healthcare, education and social security all by themselves - then blaming them, if they fail, as "lazy” (Endnote 2).

We Want Organiser To Have Decent Income

We are all too well aware of the individual elements underlying these policy objectives, here in Aotearoa, that to reprise them is simply gratuitous. To actively oppose them is not. And that is exactly what the Living Wage Aotearoa New Zealandcampaignis; an act of community resistance to an objectivelyflawed policy prescription that is destroying the lives and wellbeing of ordinary hardworking Kiwis. CAFCA and ABC’s commitment to the campaign is twofold. In the first instance we are recommending to our respective members that we formally endorse the Living Wage Campaign. Secondly we also wish to give practical expression to that view by paying the CAFCA/ABC Organiser a decent income, as defined by the Living Wage Campaign.

Included with this issue of Watchdog is an appeal for more pledges and donations to the CAFCA/ABC Organiser Account, the fund from which the ABC and CAFCA Secretary/Organiser, Murray Horton, is paid. Murray's contract for services is currently based on $17 per hour; to increase that to $18.40 per hour rate we need your help; more pledges and donations. Your pledges and donations ensure the viability of our organisations and we now are asking you to dig a little deeper, so that as an organisation we are able to make a decent income real for the Organiser. If we were in management we would be “walking the talk” but enough of that nonsense - help us to make a real commitment to the campaign and pay the Organiser a decent income as recommended. Your donations and pledges have always made a real difference and we are now asking for more to help us make this difference within our organisation.

We live in stringent times and we are all too well aware that most of our readers are facing the same day to day difficulties of getting by as everyone else - not being able to assist us at this time is no crime; there are plenty of other actions you can take in the fight back against the neo-liberal nonsense. One simple action is to take the Living Wage Aotearoa/New Zealandmessage out into the community you live and work in; the rugby club, your church, union, or community groups. The more individuals picking up this task the more likely a living wage will be achieved. Please join us in the struggle for a living wage – it is important.

Resources

• Living Wage Aotearoa New Zealand

http://www.livingwagenz.org.nz/ 

• Report of an investigation into defining a living wage for New Zealand

http://bit.ly/189pHF2

• The Family Centre Social Policy Research Unit

http://bit.ly/1b0zj5e

• Child Poverty Action Group

http://www.cpag.org.nz/
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Endnote 1

“Neither the radical programmes of the 1980s and 1990s nor the Third Way model of the 2000s have led to economic success even in neo-liberal terms. The OECD has noted (in its economic survey of New Zealand in 2003) that “the mystery is why a country that seems close to best practice in most of the policies that are regarded as the key drivers of growth is nevertheless just an average performer”. Bill Rosenberg, 2010, “Rowing Boat On The Open Sea, Or In A Haven From Financial And Environmental Crises? New Zealand, The Global Financial Crisis, And A Union Response", http://www.global-labour-university.org/fileadmin/GLU_conference_2010/papers/30._A_rowing_boat_on_the_open_sea__or_in_a_haven.pdf
“This survey takes a closer look at the New Zealand conundrum of low productivity and low incomes - despite comparatively good structural and macroeconomic policy frameworks”, OECD, 2013, Economic Surveys: New Zealand 2013.

Endnote 2

Source:  CorpWatch, “What Is Neo-liberalism? A Brief Definition For Activists (amended)”. Viewed: 10/7/13, http://www.corpwatch.org/article.php?id=376