Cleaner of over 20 years left underpaid by University

A cleaner at Massey for 20 years and living in a household of 10, S* says,  

“I’d be happy if I get more money so I can buy something for myself.”  

Massey University has contracted OCS Group for over a decade, but is yet to pay cleaners a living wage.  

S* has to budget tightly, renting a house with her family and splitting the cost of rent and bills. 

On a wage just above the minimum at $21.50 per hour, she has enough for $100 worth of food each week, which only lasts two days in such a large household.  

“I never spent anything for myself, but I really want my kids not to be hungry.” 

“I’m always helping them, if they need any money.” 

With her grandkids, kids and partners living in the house, the electricity bill could get up to $400.  

Originally from Samoa, S* hasn’t been back since 1969.  

“I'm glad if I get more money so I can buy the house, take my kids to Samoa and we have a nice holiday.”  

Her sisters and their kids still live in Samoa, “We keep sending money to them to help. I always help them.”  

After having a heart attack two years ago, S* had to leave her second job.  

She got a job as a cleaner 20 years ago so she could work at night and look after her kids during the day.  

When she first started, she said her pay was $9 an hour, “When we were on $9 - can’t get anything, because it’s low pay.”  

She said if she were on living wage she could save up and buy the house she had rented for two years.  

The Living wage of $23.65 per hour is calculated to provide workers and their families with basic necessities and to live with dignity, participating in society.  

S* came to New Zealand alone at 17 years old to make money to send back to her parents in Samoa. She got a job as a tea lady.  

Despite the pay, S* loves to work, “I really want to stay here, I don’t want to go anywhere else.”  

S* is the longest running cleaner working at Massey Wellington, working there for eight years before OCS took over.  

Shane Pasene from E tū represents underpaid workers like Vaeau. He sat with her while she shared her story, saying both Massey and OCS were at fault.  

“They (OCS) won’t pay the living wage until the client, which is Massey, will pay them. They're not gonna reach into their pockets and pay the living wage.” 

Shane said when choosing a cleaning company, “they’ll go for the cheapest one because it's financially better for Massey.”  

He said when tendering for contracts, commercial cleaning companies generally undercut each other – what he called “the race to the bottom”.  

OCS’ international turnover in 2021 was more than 1.7 billion nzd, however, Shane said many companies “plead poverty” when bargaining for pay rises.  

“There's no money to go back to Samoa or to buy that house, but with the living wage it makes it a little bit easier to survive. There's always gonna be a struggle.”  

A Massey University spokesperson said, “The university does not set the pay rates.” 

They said primary cleaners are employed through a national contract with commercial cleaning company OCS.  

“We value and respect all of our contractors and they are treated as part of the wider Massey team.”  

On the 15th of March, Living Wage NZ held an event at Victoria University with the goal of making it the first living wage university.  

Speakers from the living wage movement shared stories about cleaners like Vaeau, many not visiting their home countries in years.  

Rebecca Matthews, Wellington councillor, described pay under living wage as “poverty wages”.  

She said, “They have no excuse … They should be ashamed.” 

She was disgusted and appalled that large establishments would pay workers below living wage.  

“All of our universities in Aotearoa continue to get away with it.” 

OCS group was asked for comment but could not provide a response.  

*Name has been changed for personal reasons.