On 22 August a small delegation of people passionate about the need for a Living Wage for cleaning, catering, canteen and groundskeeping (CCCG) staff and contractors met with Te Aratai Board of Trustees to advocate for their support for such workers at Te Aratai. One of the people involved in the delegation was Linwood High School Past Pupil Barbara Taylor, who also taught at Linwood. Barbara tells us what the deputation was about and why she has become involved in the Living Wage movement.
“I am passionate about the Living Wage and I have a strong connection with Te Aratai. I grew up in our family home in Linwood, until I went off to university. I received a fantastic education at Linwood High School as it was then, and I returned a few years later as an English teacher for 3 years. I’ve always felt grateful for the education I received at Linwood.
A lot has changed since my free school and university education. My parents were not well off – my dad got into a trade after he returned from WW2, and my mum worked as a cleaner at night, to give me and my two siblings, the life they never had. Back then, lack of money was not a barrier to us getting a great education, but I know it’s much more difficult for struggling families now.
We proposed that the Board pledge their support for central government to provide schools with enough funding to pay the Living Wage (currently $27.80 per hour) to their CCCG staff and contractors. These workers are essential and valued members of the school community and should be paid enough to afford the basics so they can live a life of dignity*.
The aim is to get enough schools throughout New Zealand to sign the Pledge to ensure central government agrees to fund the Living Wage for schools’ CCCG workers, and we were delighted the Board agreed to sign it as part of the Campaign.
The benefits of central government providing schools with funding to pay the Living Wage are significant. It will obviously help school cleaners, caretakers, canteen staff and groundskeepers financially, but it will also help them feel more valued, and that in turn will help support the school learning environment.
In my update to the Foundation next year I am hoping to be able to report that central government has agreed to fund CCCG workers as a result of the Schools Living Wage campaign. In the meantime, if you are involved with your local state or integrated school, please let them know how they can support the Living Wage for their CCCG staff and contractors.”
*If CCCG workers are paid the living wage, it increases the wage of an individual worker by an average of $180 per fortnight.
For more information: https://www.livingwageschools.org