Message from JP: Kill the Tory bill that would scrap the Miniumum Wage

From LabourList / @LabourList

Over on Go Fourth, John Prescott is shedding light on the Tory bill that may threaten the National Minimum Wage.

The minimum wage helped lift millions of people out of poverty pay – two thirds of them women. It’s one of Labour’s greatest and proudest achievements. And the Tories, led by William Hague, fought tooth and nail against its introduction in 1999, just as they did with the NHS in 1945.

The Employment Opportunities Bill, proposed by senior Tory Christoper Chope MP and 11 other Conservative MPs, will allow firms to opt out of the minimum wage of £5.73 an hour and pay what they like. It is due to have its second reading on May 15.

This will effectively scrap the minimum wage.

Responding to his Facebook friend Alex Ross, John has now launched a full campaign to kill this bill and save the National Minimum Wage – and you can add your support to that campaign by joinging the swelling ranks in the Facebook Group and by signing Alex’s petition.

JP said:

“Send this article onto your friends, change your Facebook status and let’s Kill This Tory Bill! We only have 10 days to save the minimum wage. So let’s get to it.”

Here he is launching the campaign at Chesterfield Labour Party on Sunday: