14 years ago this week, on 1 April 1999, Labour introduced the UK's first ever national minimum wage (NMW) with an adult hourly rate of £3.60. Today it stands at £6.19 and is uprated annually on the recommendation of the Low Pay Commission. Now the Con Dems are insisting that the supposedly impartial body changes its terms of reference to consider the impact on ‘employment and the economy’ before agreeing future increases - leading to press speculation of a freeze or cut in the adult minimum wage rate (the 18 to 20 rate was frozen last October):
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/9965039/Minimum-wage-could-be-frozen-or-cut-if-it-starts-to-cost-jobs-or-damage-economy-Government-suggests.html
TULO has responded quickly and launched a petition calling on the Government to back off from its plans:
http://www.unionstogether.org.uk/protecttheminimumwage
