Power to Win puts the Living Wage in the spotlight
Lyndy McIntyre’s passionate account of the first ten years of the Living Wage Movement, Power to Win, is still sweeping the motu.
Power to Win is dedicated to outspoken Living Wage advocate and former Victoria University cleaner, Rebecca Kuach. Rebecca is pictured here with Lyndy McIntyre at the book’s Wellington launch. Photo: Jason Fell.
Lyndy McIntyre’s passionate account of the first ten years of the Living Wage Movement, Power to Win, is still sweeping the motu.
The bestseller launched in Wellington on 4 July, followed by Christchurch, Auckland, and Palmerston North just yesterday.
The accompanying media blitz shows that the Living Wage is now a household name in Aotearoa. Here’s a run-down:
An interview with Lyndy’s local Kapiti News set the scene: “Back in 2011 no one talked about the living wage as a concept but now everyone talks about it.”
In a Sunday Star Times Q & A, Lyndy highlighted how the Living Wage is more important now than ever: “Mostly I hope people who’d like to make a difference read the book and feel more hopeful about the potential of people power to win much-needed change for good… As long as workers struggle in low-paid jobs in Aotearoa, the Power to Win message is relevant.”
Newsroom told the story of Ria Lingad, who owns Living Wage Employer Your Local Coffee Roaster cafe in Pukekohe: “Our turnover rate is very, very low, which is amazing and overall, good for business.”
Outlets from Pacific Media Network, National Business Review, the Manawatu Guardian, RNZ (review and interview) and Waatea News reported on the book’s release. Hitting the airwaves again, Lyndy reflected on the impact of the Living Wage Movement with Duncan Garner and Jesse Mulligan.
The Spinoff both reviewed the book and noted its Number 3 spot on the Unity Books Bestseller List, while Newsroom also ran the new poem from Erik Kennedy that opened the Christchurch Launch.
In Erik’s words: “The living wage has gone from an alien concept in New Zealand politics to an important part of the discourse, something that policymakers and pundits have to reckon with. In many ways, a living wage means freedom from onerous demands, the power to live at least a part of life not on someone else’s terms.”
You can buy Power to Win in bookstores, on online here.
The Living Wage Movement would like to thank Lyndy for her tireless work. Firstly, the part she played in our story, then the mammoth effort to compile that story. Reflected in this post is Lyndy’s ongoing commitment to keeping the Living Wage in the public consciousness. Ngā mihi nui ki a koe.