Pay negotiations delay DCC’s living wage
Report being prepared on contractors
PAY negotiations are holding up plans for one of Dunedin’s largest employers to pay all its staff the living wage.
While deciding on its 10year plan last year the Dunedin City Council voted to become an official living wage employer, which means paying all staff at least $20.55 per hour, $4.05 more than the current minimum wage set by the Government.
Chief executive Sue Bidrose said some staff were yet to receive the living wage because of the timing of several employment agreements.
Negotiations on two out of the council’s three collective bargaining agreements began at the end of last year, she said.
Dr Bidrose said legislation governing collective agreement bargaining prevented her from commenting further on matters such as how many council employees were still making less than $20.55 per hour.
As the council already had an unofficial living wage policy, the move would have little impact on budgets.
Staff were also preparing a report on what would be involved if the council required regular contractors to pay their staff a living wage.
The report was expected to be discussed early next year, she said.
To become an Living Wage Aotearoa accredited employer, councils had to pay their own staff and contractors $20.55 an hour.
The Wellington City Council is the only accredited local body employer, although other councils, such as Auckland and Christchurch, have living wage policies.
Other accredited living wage employers in Dunedin include the Otago Chocolate Company (Ocho) and the Vaporium.