$15 minimum wage?

[oneofsix]

Why stop at $15? Make it $50 per hour and solve all of this country's problems :

that would make it twice Aussie's (about equal with exchange rates). They might get jealous. Lets make it $25 then they can at least say the exchange rate still makes theirs better.

[yachtie10]

Better than national destroying ACC by opening up the best parts to their Aussie cronies and then selling our fundamental assets and insuring that all their profits are sent overseas thus adding to our overseas debt, remember telecom, within 9 years the owners full investment was repaid overseas and now Telecom export money annually to their owners, if NZ had retained ownership our Ultrafast broadband would not be costing us anything. You think labour cook the roost?

While I think selling telecom was a stupid thing to do it was done in 1987
Who was in government then??? Labour
If your going to be a lefty whiner at least get your facts straight

[oneofsix]

While I think selling telecom was a stupid thing to do it was done in 1987
Who was in government then??? Labour
If your going to be a lefty whiner at least get your facts straight

that would be the Labour driven by those that now make up the core of ACT

[mashman]

Well I don't know your position but being mid 30's now my parents and most of my friends when I was growing up generally all worked their asses off to make ends meet and most worked more then 40hrs, I've had this conversation with them before and when you compared what they earnt to what houses cost etc it was all relative (in CHCH anyway), yes houses were cheaper but then they earnt F all. Not everything was milk and honey back then as you have to remember they were having to deal with crippling interest rates on their morgages (2x3x now) so even tho houses werent as much its not like they were earning huge amounts of deposable income.
I still stand by what I say in that you have to work your way up and just upping the minimum wage isn't the answer, I can remember very well the times when I was so broke I couldn't work out how to pay the bills but I worked my way up the ladder I didn't rely on minimum wage increases to get were I am.

40's here. And pretty similar to the rest, know broke, seen parents broke, family member fucked by mortgage etc...

BUT... the above is what you and I, and our parents, and thousands of others in a similar situation were prepared to do, to get going again. It could have easily gone the other way. There are some that don't want to do it the way we did it. But that doesn't mean you leave them poor because you think that their attitude is all wrong (in plenty of cases it will be ), because they won't take themselves further at that present moment in their young lives? The cost of living is rising. Fuck 'em?

I disagree... you can keep that rat race thinking, I don't want it.

[SPman]

$15 an hr!
Fek, I haven't worked for that since 1987! (except when I was on the dole)
It's scary all you folks saying your're getting $11-12-13/hr - there's something seriously wrong, somewhere.
And Key would like to see wages drop! (19 February 2008)

Bugger me, I'm glad I'm out of it.

[Blackshear]

$15 an hr!
Fek, I haven't worked for that since 1987! (except when I was on the dole)
It's scary all you folks saying your're getting $11-12-13/hr - there's something seriously wrong, somewhere.
And Key would like to see wages drop! (19 February 2008)

Bugger me, I'm glad I'm out of it.

Minimum wage is 12.75 if I'm not mistaken.
Just try living on $450 after tax per week

Let alone with a bike to pay for lol.

[The Lone Rider]

Just a novel idea to apply across many employers-

A place I have worked for based it's pay off an education scheme. Admittedly, the company paid for you to do the education (correspondence), but every time you complete a certain number of credits/levels you got a pay rise.

All the correspondence that was offered was related to the job, although sometimes a little indirect to what my particular job was.

Base rate at the place was a little over minimum (or on minimum?) and after 6 months of competent employment, you got a small pay rise. After that, any further pay increases are solely at your own effort to complete and pass the studies.

While the company has to put down a little bit extra for the education (and pay rises down the track), in turn they get a higher skilled employee that can be put to more use. They are also more likely to retain those skilled staff, as the pay given after a bit of study is rarely matched by similar jobs.

As an employee, you get the education. Education is valuable on it's own, but you additionally get nationally credited, plus the pay rises. And being that you are/can be constantly up skilling, your job security becomes better as you become more valuable than the staff who have chosen not to do the study.

It's fairly win win in my eyes.

We should be looking at the dole bludgers and baby factory mothers to save the government money and lower taxes.

There's my buck fiddy

[phill-k]

While I think selling telecom was a stupid thing to do it was done in 1987
Who was in government then??? Labour
If your going to be a lefty whiner at least get your facts straight

Actually u need to get your facts right the people responsible for selling telecom are now those same washed out has beans still bringing up the same ideas that failed then, they are the face of act and those behind the scenes in national. The sale of telecom failed and is universally accepted as being a mistake, why would selling our utility companies be any different. Being in government is not like running a business and should not be treated as such, the bottom line unlike in business should not be the focus or priority. National and John Key have failed to ignite NZ, however Key and his cronies continue to make big money whilst the majority of working NZer's just get by and if you think that's ok well good on you, but I don't.

[steve_t]

Minimum wage is 12.75 if I'm not mistaken.

$13

[yachtie10]

Actually u need to get your facts right the people responsible for selling telecom are now those same washed out has beans still bringing up the same ideas that failed then, they are the face of act and those behind the scenes in national. The sale of telecom failed and is universally accepted as being a mistake, why would selling our utility companies be any different. Being in government is not like running a business and should not be treated as such, the bottom line unlike in business should not be the focus or priority. National and John Key have failed to ignite NZ, however Key and his cronies continue to make big money whilst the majority of working NZer's just get by and if you think that's ok well good on you, but I don't.

Nothing wrong with my facts. I stated clearly that I thought selling telecom was a mistake. I was just replying to your post claiming national sold it. I dont live life with one eye open like some

you said

Better than national destroying ACC by opening up the best parts to their Aussie cronies and then selling our fundamental assets and insuring that all their profits are sent overseas thus adding to our overseas debt, remember telecom, within 9 years the owners full investment was repaid overseas and now Telecom export money annually to their owners, if NZ had retained ownership our Ultrafast broadband would not be costing us anything. You think labour cook the roost?

if you are going to be one eyed and bitch about national at least get you facts straight.
niether party is golden and does everything perfectly

[puddytat]

if you are going to be one eyed and bitch about national at least get you facts straight.
niether party is golden and does everything perfectly

Still amazed anyone votes for either of 'em....we should vote for the OTHERS for a change. What have we got to lose? Most of its been sold or is in the process of being set up to be sold, the longer we fluff around splitting hairs over two centerist parties the more time it gives those with a stake to set up the Dominoes....
But in saying that...if the minor parties were to go into some kind of coalition to govern, whats the bet that Liarbour &(multi)National would do just wot zee Germans did & form a grand Coalition to keep them in Gravy