Wage rises in New Zealand are expected to remain a major issue for any government this year, as pay claims are historically linked to inflation - sitting at 4%, well beyond the Reserve Bank's targeted outer range of 3% and forecast to reach 5% by the end of the year.
A rally of the Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union (EPMU) and Council of Trade Unions (CTU) in Dunedin yesterday, the third of 24 around the country this month, attracted about 150 people.
It is spreading the message of "Work Rights Wage Drive" nationwide, urging people to consider Labour and National's respective policies on workers rights before voting in the general election this year.
EPMU national secretary Andrew Little was circumspect with any outright political advice, but "made no apology" to critics of the union who had said it was electioneering and politicising itself.
"We are here to influence the political system. We look at what's proposed and pledged [by political parties] and if it takes away rights, we say so," Mr Little said.
The EPMU, with its 50,000 members spanning 11 industries, is one of Labour's greatest supporters and historically mobilises in election years.
The labour cost index released on Monday reveals wages are up 3.5% for the previous 12 months, with Mr Little saying yesterday wage settlements for the year were around 4.25% on average.
After the rally, neither Mr Little nor CTU president Helen Kelly would forecast overall expectations on settlements this year, but both were confident successful wage claims would cover the rate of inflation.
