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A proud history

8 June 2009

Its ten years since the introduction of a national minimum wage. Adam Wissen, Midlands YM convenor attended a celebration of the achievements of rank and file trade unionists in winning a significant gain for working people.

Hosted by Kelvin Hopkins MP and funded by Unison’s general political fund, this bash brought together trade unionists and campaigners young and old to celebrate a great achievement in the history of the trade union movement and the current Labour government.

The trade union role

As a young person entering the workforce at the age of 16, working part time, I’d heard of the minimum wage and knew I was entitled to it. I didn’t however, have any idea of the years of campaigning by trade union members that lead to its introduction a year earlier.

The event on 1 April 2009 was very much a wine and cheese party, with speeches from many representatives from trade unions and social justice groups including Unison general secretary Dave Prentis, Heather Wakefield from the low pay commission and Harriet Harman, leader of the House of Commons and Minister for Women and Equality.

Our master of ceremonies was James Anthony, Unison NEC Young Member representative.

Most speeches included references to the struggle against those who opposed a minimum wage, which was a flagship policy that helped Labour gain power in 1997.

Predictably, opposition came from conservatives and liberal democrats, the CBI (Confederation of British Industry) and elements from the right wing press who scare mongered that it would lead to millions of job losses.

Bizarrely, there was opposition from some in the trade unions for many years.

What we think

Although it is a focus of Unison’s campaign to support up rating the minimum wage there was little mention about raising it to a living wage.

Bringing 18 - 22 year olds up to the full adult rate of £5.73 per hour was touched upon.

The PCS young members charter states we support an end to discriminatory youth rates for people under the age of 22.

In other words, we believe the minimum wage should apply to all, irrespective of age; this is where we differ to some in the trade unions.