School Leader Calls for Living Wage Commitment Ahead of Election Forum

Ahead of the National Election Forum on 2 September, Mr Mike Baugh, Acting Principal of Villa Maria College in Christchurch, is calling on political party leaders to commit to paying school workers the Living Wage.

School workers—including cleaners, grounds staff, caretakers, administration teams and support staff—play an essential role in creating safe, welcoming and thriving environments for students. Yet many of these workers continue to face the pressures of rising living costs while earning wages that make it difficult to make ends meet.

Mr Baugh is urging political leaders to recognise the contribution of these workers and take meaningful action to ensure that everyone working in our schools can earn enough to live with dignity.

Paying the Living Wage is about more than a number on a payslip. It is an investment in people, whānau and communities. When workers are paid fairly, they are better able to support their families, participate in their communities and build a more secure future.

With the National Election Forum bringing political leaders together, this is an important opportunity to put the experiences of school workers at the centre of the conversation and ask parties to make a clear commitment to Living Wage employment across the education sector.

The Living Wage movement will continue working alongside school leaders, workers, unions, faith groups and communities to build support for fair pay and ensure that the people who keep our schools running are valued for the work they do.

Watch the video here