Earning enough to live on

It should be no surprise to union members and activists that BusinessNZ opposes Fair Pay Agreements (“Labour Pains”, April 9). The focus of BusinessNZ has always been on the businesses, not the workers.

It is also no surprise, but still disturbing, that a security guard and a supermarket worker have to endure such appalling conditions. Security firms have long maintained their practices of casualised labour, long shifts, minimum wages and little or no overtime as we know it.

The ongoing tragedy and scandal is that workers in many industries have to work such long hours merely to survive financially.

Nanaia’s story highlights why it is that many people over the age of 65 have to keep working simply to enable a degree of financial security. That a single, female, low-paid older worker has to now seek new accommodation adds stress to her situation. Both Nanaia’s and Victoria’s examples are not isolated, as [Council of Trade Unions president] Richard Wagstaff will know.