Over 60 religious and community groups are asking Jacinda Ardern to address current benefit levels that are keeping people in poverty. “During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, you acted quickly to set up the COVID income relief payment, which is nearly twice the amount of the usual jobseeker benefit. “You showed us that you Read more
Entities that are registered charities are eligible to receive money from the government’s seven billion dollar wage subsidy scheme. Stuff reports that churches in New Zealand have received “more than $1.5 million”. Among other Catholic entities that have received money, the Catholic Diocese of Auckland received $618,338 for 94 staff. The Catholic Diocese of Hamilton Read more
Is it too much to ask the Church to pay its workers a living wage? According to Valerie Schultz, while the church relies on volunteers in many instances, certain jobs require steady commitment and extensive training, which must be compensated. Paying the people who provide these services is a matter of economic justice. Schultz says Read more
Wellington’s Anglican Bishop Justin Duckworth has pledged that he will base his own income on a newly calculated living wage of $19.25 an hour. But this is complicated as he lives in church-provided accommodation, the New Zealand Herald reported. The new living wage level, calculated by the Anglican Family Centre, increased from $18.80 an hour Read more
St Patrick is one of a handful of Christian saints, along with Mary, Valentine and Francis, that is celebrated in popular culture. His feast day is commemorated with supermarket meat sales, green rivers, green beer, and (my favourite) parades. But who was the real St Patrick? Most people know that the missionary Patrick (Patricius or Pádraig) Read more
Not everyone gets to be an astronaut, and not everyone wants to be. But, no matter the job, everyone wants to feel valued and be respected. Jobs in the fast food industry are often a young person’s first taste of working life – from slinging burgers after school to delivering pizzas on the weekend. The Read more
The Treasury has dumped a monsoon bucketful of scorn on the campaign for a living wage. But the case for such a campaign withstands the deluge. In a report released last Friday, the Treasury argues the “living wage is not well targeted at the intended demographic of low-income families”. It thinks the $18.40 an hour Read more
Wellington’s Anglican bishop says he may cut his own salary to help fund a “living wage” for cleaners, caregivers and other low-paid workers in Anglican churches and social agencies. Bishop Justin Duckworth, a dreadlocked, Jandal-wearing priest who was an upset choice as bishop last year, is also challenging other high-income earners to take less to Read more
An unnamed union critic has accused New Zealand churches of hypocrisy because while they support the their support for the living wage campaign, they are in some cases not paying their own employees a living wage. Church leaders however say the wages they pay is not something they control. It depends on the Government controlled Read more
Recognising that “fair wages are essential to the common good of our society”, the Catholic bishops of England and Wales have endorsed the principle of a living wage for Catholics agencies under their control. “Given the extent of employment by Catholic organisations and charities, it is likely that thousands of people could be affected and Read more