When working a 68-hour week still doesn't cut it

Forums › Off topic › When working a 68-hour week still doesn't cut it

Klipspringer

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#130693 24-Sep-2013 12:11

With bills to pay and a baby on the way, Wellington parking warden Esau Taniela tackles a 68-hour working week to bring home $719, while his pregnant partner works three jobs.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/9200190/When-working-a-68-hour-week-still-doesn-t-cut-it

And a simple google search brings up his facebook profile displaying plenty of photos which contradict the whole story.

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#901834 24-Sep-2013 12:12

Would be interested to know how many HPs the person has and what they are for

keewee01

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#901840 24-Sep-2013 12:18

Given he wouldn't have gotten anything from Stuff/The DomPost for his story, why would you allow wrong information to be printed!?

Shame on the journalist for not checking the information first, or is it just a case of media sensationalism. Anything for a story, circulation and a pay check.

Inphinity

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#901841 24-Sep-2013 12:18

Lol.

Klipspringer

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#901845 24-Sep-2013 12:21

I think its a political game that labour is trying to play.

This is "poverty" for sure

dickytim

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#901850 24-Sep-2013 12:28

We had a storeman a while ago, he did the same thing to Campbell Live.

He was living rent free above his parents pub, which they sold, he cried poor when he had to move, and told the press he had no where to go and the big bad company he worked for didn't pay him well enough for his wife to stay home anymore.

The story was 90% fabrication and 10% exaggeration, the facts were he was well above min wage, he didn't even look for somewhere to live until a week before he had to move out and who else can afford to have a stay at home wife that is an unskilled worker anywhere in the world?

BTW the guy I am referring to stated he worked 60 + hours a week but he never did a second of overtime in his life and it was debatable that he ever really worked while he was at work!

macuser

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#901866 24-Sep-2013 12:51

What are you all on about, on his Facebook he just looks like a normal happy young engaged guy, I don't see new cars or flat screen TVs...I'm getting pretty sick of all these BS posts by you Klipspringer, this is a forum about technology and the industry surrounding it, not these bigoted opinions about the lazy blacks and socialists which you are pretty consistent in bringing our attention to. There is always room on this forum to discus issues in our community but the relentlessness you express your non constructive opinions is pretty ridiculous. I think your constant posts are negatively effecting the tone of this website, which is one of the best online communities I participate in.

Klipspringer

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#901872 24-Sep-2013 12:58

macuser: What are you all on about, on his Facebook he just looks like a normal happy young engaged guy, I don't see new cars or flat screen TVs...I'm getting pretty sick of all these BS posts by you Klipspringer, this is a forum about technology and the industry surrounding it, not these bigoted opinions about the lazy blacks and socialists which you are pretty consistent in bringing our attention to. There is always room on this forum to discus issues in our community but the relentlessness you express your non constructive opinions is pretty ridiculous. I think your constant posts are negatively effecting the tone of this website, which is one of the best online communities I participate in.

Sorry you feel that way. Surely the "off topic" forum is a place to discuss everything but technology.

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Kingy

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#901889 24-Sep-2013 13:20

Klipspringer:
macuser: What are you all on about, on his Facebook he just looks like a normal happy young engaged guy, I don't see new cars or flat screen TVs...I'm getting pretty sick of all these BS posts by you Klipspringer, this is a forum about technology and the industry surrounding it, not these bigoted opinions about the lazy blacks and socialists which you are pretty consistent in bringing our attention to. There is always room on this forum to discus issues in our community but the relentlessness you express your non constructive opinions is pretty ridiculous. I think your constant posts are negatively effecting the tone of this website, which is one of the best online communities I participate in.

Sorry you feel that way. Surely the "off topic" forum is a place to discuss everything but technology.

I actually have to agree with macuser here. Aside from maybe buying a ring and a smoking habit there doesn't seem to be anything 'contradicting the whole story'. I guess having fun with friends and family automatically means you're well off and live a perfect life. Good work Klipspringer.

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Klipspringer

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#901896 24-Sep-2013 13:34

Kingy:

I actually have to agree with macuser here. Aside from maybe buying a ring and a smoking habit there doesn't seem to be anything 'contradicting the whole story'. I guess having fun with friends and family automatically means you're well off and live a perfect life. Good work Klipspringer.

I disagree. Smoking is an expensive habit and it can cost an average smoker about $17 per day. Ask me, I'm an ex smoker.

One of the reasons as to why I stopped smoking was because it was simply unaffordable, and in this guys case, probably the difference between living on the "poverty" line or not (yes an assumption)

Going back to the story. What does it come down to? It comes down to the minimum wage, the story is being used as an example as to why its not currently enough.

What happens if we increase the minimum wage for council workers? Who pays the gaps? People like us. Ratepayers and Taxpayers.

Is that fare? So yes of course it upsets me when I see that the guy can afford to smoke.

nickb800

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#901907 24-Sep-2013 13:56

Putting inferences about his personal choices aside for a minute,

- By my calculations he should be pulling in more like $800 rather than $700 per week if he's earning $14.40/hr for 68hrs. Perhaps he is claiming his longest week for hours and a shorter week for pay. Or perhaps he has child support or student loan deductions (less likely for his job)

- He isn't factoring in the Working for Families credits that he would be eligible for if he had a kid. IMHO WFF is the solution to the problem promoted by the working wage lobby. Minimum wage is plenty to live on if you don't have kids. Minimum wage isn't enough to live on if you have kids. WFF (money for having kids) solves this problem without catastrophically distorting the labour market. Perhaps we should be debating the threshold/payments from WFF rather than a silly $18.40 pipe dream

BTR

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#901926 24-Sep-2013 14:20

I agree with Macuser, just because he might be struggling a bit doesn't mean he can't have some fun with mates.

We don't know the full story so IMHO none of us have the right to judge him. Plus how do we know stuff.co.nz haven't twisted his words...

surfisup1000

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#901939 24-Sep-2013 14:45

Klipspringer:
With bills to pay and a baby on the way, Wellington parking warden Esau Taniela tackles a 68-hour working week to bring home $719, while his pregnant partner works three jobs.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/9200190/When-working-a-68-hour-week-still-doesn-t-cut-it

And a simple google search brings up his facebook profile displaying plenty of photos which contradict the whole story.

I just don't see anything too contradictory myself -- maybe he smokes but how often? He goes to parties, but don't we all? Being social animals.

He is an unskilled worker but he has chosen this for himself. Not much sympathy from me.

I do have problems with the pay levels at the other end of the scale however. eg, Council CEO's getting 300k+ a year.

JamesL

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#901945 24-Sep-2013 14:57

dickytim: We had a storeman a while ago, he did the same thing to Campbell Live.

He was living rent free above his parents pub, which they sold, he cried poor when he had to move, and told the press he had no where to go and the big bad company he worked for didn't pay him well enough for his wife to stay home anymore.

The story was 90% fabrication and 10% exaggeration, the facts were he was well above min wage, he didn't even look for somewhere to live until a week before he had to move out and who else can afford to have a stay at home wife that is an unskilled worker anywhere in the world?

BTW the guy I am referring to stated he worked 60 + hours a week but he never did a second of overtime in his life and it was debatable that he ever really worked while he was at work!

Funny, Campbell Live did a similar story about a couple in Wellington of which it was similar fabrication and exaggeration as my partner knew them through another friend.

After that I never watch Campbell Live because I can't trust anything that comes out that show as not being bullsh*t

minimoke

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#901961 24-Sep-2013 15:17

This “Living Wage” BullS#it really annoys the pants of me. We already have them. One is called Minimum Adult Wage and the other is Working for Families.

Here are some basic facts of life.
-       Stay uneducated and offer an employer little and you won’t be worth much.
-       Life aint handed to you on a platter. Gain some skills, develop a work history that makes you worth more to an employer. What about a Digger Operator you can get $17 - $19 an hour in Wellington
-       Cant afford a family? Heres a clue. Don’t start one! F%ck me – this guy is 22 and he’s starting a family he can’t afford.
-       Poverty amongst those who smoke is one of spirit not wealth.
-       What frickin planet is there where you don’t have to worry about bills, not stressing and wanting to spend more time with family? Do these people really think $18.40 will achieve that?
-       Figure out what your earnings are and then adjust your expenditure accordingly. Its called budgeting! He’s bringing in $800 net a week and his missus is bringing in however much with her 3 jobs and they still can’t make ends meet. Go figure!

The bigger picture here is Wellington seem to have a council of dunderheads and exploiters. How do you Wellington residents sleep at night knowing your Council is prepared to let a person work 68 hours a week – and with no overtime!. Shame on you all.

sleemanj

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#901963 24-Sep-2013 15:27

Klipspringer:
Is that fare?

Fair, and yes it is, somebody has to do these jobs, why should they not be able to earn sufficient wage to have an average level of comfort in their life. He's not sitting on a benefit, he's out there working for his money.

surfisup1000:
He goes to parties, but don't we all?

No.

surfisup1000:He is an unskilled worker but he has chosen this for himself.

If nobody chooses to be an "unskilled worker" (because they are paid poorly), then who shall do the jobs.

Also, perhaps you think that you need absolutely no skills, you think you could do his job tomorrow as well as he does today?

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