A community meeting giving advice on how to establish a Living Wage Movement in Dunedin yesterday attracted more than 40 people representing Dunedin organisations.
Representatives from Dunedin churches, unions, education organisations, parenting organisations and the disability sector attended to see what it would take to establish a living wage of $18.40 an hour to help Dunedin residents meet their needs, enjoy their lives and participate in society.
Earlier this week, North East Valley Normal School showed it was possible to establish a living wage in Dunedin, by becoming the first school in New Zealand to pay all its staff at least $18.40 an hour.
At the meeting, principal John McKenzie said it was relatively easy to establish.
It took him about 30 minutes to look at the pay scales and work out the school's budget could accommodate the extra cost by tightening its belt.
From there, it was straightforward getting the board of trustees' blessing, he said.
He believed social conscience was a major factor in his decision to join the Living Wage Movement.
After reading an article about an Auckland school that charged course fees which cost more than the annual wage of some of the school's support staff, he believed the staff deserved better.
''We have all these values in schools and all these fantastic visions. But if you can't put it into reality, it's all just hollow.
''We need to be kinder to each other,'' he said.
Mr McKenzie stopped short of challenging anyone to follow suit. Rather, he urged those at the meeting to go away and think about the initiative.
Service and Food Workers' Union communications director Lyndy McIntyre also spoke at the meeting, giving examples of how the campaign had been successfully adopted in other parts of the country.
She said it was important for Dunedin to find it's own way when establishing the Dunedin Movement, and called on the city's leaders to help raise the profile of the movement.
