Tertiary Update is TEU’s weekly newsletter of tertiary education issues from the perspective of those who work there.

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The archive of Tertiary Update is available here and below are links to our more recent Tertiary Updates.

  • TEU wins promotions case against University of Auckland vice-chancellor20 June, 2013 - 10:05 am

    Tertiary Update Vol 16 No 20 The vice-chancellor at the University of Auckland does not have the right to review academic staff promotions criteria without involving TEU members, is the outcome of an important Employment Relations Authority decision this week. TEU won its authority case against the vice-chancellor on Wednesday, when the authority found that [...]

  • New employment law will harm lowest paid workers13 June, 2013 - 10:40 am

    Tertiary Update Vol 16 No 19 A proposed new employment law is likely to drive down the wages of workers in sectors that are particularly vulnerable to exploitation: all cleaning and food services plus caretaking, orderly and laundry services in certain sectors such as health, aged care and education. Universities and polytechnics that tender out [...]

  • Law change to take away tea breaks6 June, 2013 - 11:38 am

    Tertiary Update Vol 16 No 18 The government’s proposed new employment law, which had its first reading in parliament this week, includes provisions that will remove people’s guaranteed right to meal and tea breaks. Currently the law entitles all employees to: one paid 10-minute rest break if their work period is between two and four [...]

  • Will PBRF go one round too many?30 May, 2013 - 10:28 am

    Tertiary Update Vol 16 No 17 Victoria University academic Jonathan Boston says PBRF has mostly been successful at reaching its goals but after three rounds it is time for a fundamental review. Jonathan Boston, one of the original architects of the PBRF scheme, said it was always meant to be reviewed after the first three [...]

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Living Wage

TEU is calling on tertiary education employers to back the Living Wage campaign, saying that too many employees working at tertiary institutions are on wages and salaries that make it hard to care for a family.

TEU’s national president Lesley Francey says many tertiary education employees, are on salaries and wages below $18.40 an hour.

Lesley Francey says there are book-shelvers in permanent jobs at Victoria University working for the minimum wage – $13.50 per hour.

“Universities around New Zealand have many employees in low-paid or precarious jobs where they are not getting enough money to look after a family with healthy accommodation, healthy food and opportunities to participate in their communities.”

“Universities are meant to be transformative, not just for students but staff. People at universities should be making a better life for themselves and their communities. We would like to see universities and other tertiary employers among the very first employers to sign up to the Living Wage campaign.”

The Living Wage Aotearoa New Zealand Campaign brings together a range of 126 organisations including TEU.

The campaign will name a living wage rate today of $18.40 an hour, calculated by researchers at the Anglican Church’s Family Centre in Lower Hutt, as “the income necessary to provide workers and their families with the basic necessities of life”.

Find out more about the campaign here:

http://www.livingwagenz.org.nz/

Read a Report of an Investigation Into Defining A Living Wage For New Zealand (pdf)
Prepared by Peter King and Charles Waldegrave, Family Centre Social Policy Research Unit

Commissioned For the Living Wage Campaign
December 2012

The New Zealand Herald reports that about 40 percent of the country’s 1.85 million employees, or around 740,000 people, earn below that rate – including beginning teachers, chefs, truck drivers, mechanics and carpenters, as well as traditionally low-paid groups such as cleaners, caregivers and checkout operators.

The campaign targets major employers, such as councils and universities, to pay at least the living wage to their own employees, and to make it a condition in their contracts with companies that offer services such as cleaning and security.

Charles Waldegrave, who led the Family Centre study, told the Herald the $18.40 figure was based on “not including any luxuries at all”.

“The whole idea is you could participate in society and have enough to pay your rent and food and power.”

Read TEU news on the living wage: