11 April sees the National Conference of the Working Women's Charter Campaign at Lanchester Poly. TESSA VAN GELDEREN reports on the progress of the Campaign.
The Working Women's Charter Campaign (WWCC) has now been active for over two years. In that time it has been adopted by and received support from many organisations or me labour movement - including the Amalgamated Union or Engineering workers, Nanona Union of Public Employees, National and Local Government Officers Association, National Union of Journalists, and at least 37 trades councils - and Charter groups exist throughout the country.
The importance of the Charter has been to show clearly that the position of women in the workplace and the home cannot be separated. That is why ne campai was always musisted on me unity of its ten demands, despite the obvious weaknesses or some or mem when taken individually. Equal opportunity without nursery facilities or the CER EISTE AND MERY STEIT right to abortion and contraception be comes meaningless, and the WWCC has had an important impast in taking up these questions inside the organisations or me working class The present attacks of the Labour Government mean that the Charter has an even more important role to play. The cut-backs in public expenditure affect women at all levels: it is women who will suffer most from nursery closures, education cuts, the declining health service, rent increases, etc. Women ar are also often the first to go when it comes to redundancies. The effect of a all these attacks is that women are being pushed back into the family.
The recent legislation designed to end discrimination (Equal Pay Act, Sex Discrimination Act, and Employment Protection Act) becomes a mockery in such a situation (and this is not to mention the inadequacies of the Acts themselves). How can women begin to play a full role outside the home (at work, in the unions, community ete), when Ists and near system. Co-ordinate It is for this reason that the forthcoming National Conference of the WWCC is so necessary as a means of starting to co-ordinate and centralise this struggle. Because we must forge actions against the policies of the Labour Government waich unite we whole working class, we have to fight against all who say that the struggle for women's rights is a diversion at the present time. The WWCC National Conference is an expression of the need for that struggle, and it will be an important opportunity to pool experiences and begin to work towards a common strategy.
have also been put to the test in the last two years - and in a number of instances found wanting. What is important to remember in amending the Charter is that It embodies ue practice and exper ience of the labour movement in the last two years in the fight for women's rights (e.g. the passing of the Sex Discrimination and Equal Pay Acts, the fight for free abortion and contraception on request). By up-dating the present Charter in this light, a better basis can be provided for uniting broad sections of the working class in the fight for women's rights. Acid test iris not too late to get delegated from your local trade union branch, trades council, Charter or women's groups. Women's liberation becomes an acid test for the left in the present economic and poncal crisis, and unless the labour movement passes that test, not only will women be sold out but the whole working class will be weakened and disunified.
The Charter has so far made small but important inroads. Now it must be strengthened politically and organisationally so that it can go out into the organisations of the labour movement and ensure that the needs of women are taken up in au the struggles now break ing out against the effects of the capitalist crisis.
WWCC Conference Secretariat, c/o Helen Gurdon, Flat 4, 39 Newbold Terrace East, Leamington Spa, Warwicks.
novelICe organising this action. limited 1967 Act.
The actual demands of the Charter ha of women each year!
CAMPAIGN for Repea Gen Sec, AUEW, Dereke Robins nonoway noad, i/ Applications for credentials to: WWW enquiries must have the support and participation of the entire workers The vigil recently organised at Barbara Castle's home in Islington as part of a fight against the closure of the Elisabeth Garret Anderson Hospital is one example where such broad support has been won the Working Women's Charter Campaign, the NAC, the Camden Committee Against the Cuts, and the hospital workers declared redundant follow. ing the closure all participated in Women in the localities must draw together their experiences in attempting to get abortions - investigating which doctors have imposed their reactionary views on women by adopting a consistent policy of "no abortions'. Local campaigns should be launched with the backing of hospital workers to remove these doctors, who are sabotaging even the Their medical skills should be used in other ways to serve the working class. But they can't continue in a position where they determine the fate of hundreds Only through organising in this -WHAT'S ONFor immigration Act-ad hoc emmittee to organise i Apri demo meets eve riday, 7.30pm, 152 Camden high ou WORKING WOMEN'S CHARTER Campaign.natior onference, 10/11 April in Coventry. Open to all bod es supporting the campaign. Discussion of perspective BIRMINGHAM Engineering Voice public meetin Fi (Convenor, Austin)
Chair: Mick Rice (JSSC Lucas BW3). Fri 19 Marct 7.30pm. AUEW Hall, Holloway Circus, Birmingham 1.
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aster Road, Trumpington, Cambrid STUDENT CONFEHENGE on ireland, sponsored D' ions and TOM. Any college society or union ca send delegates on the basis of self-determination fol the irisn people. sessions include debate with Broad Left. Sat 27 March, 10.30am, North London Poly.
Paddy Prenderville, 01-328 1545. social in evening. Detais tron CENTRAL LONDON Right to Work public meeting: -I nurs to march, om moebuck pub, tonennam Cr nodd warren st tuber. speakers. two marcners. ine agn to work communed is open to an atriated Doc tos, the unempoyed, local rank and the mintants - present rump on the Select Committee. If it is successful, then the TUC and Labour Party will fall in behind because the political price of remain ing outside will become too heavy Hence it is important to begin now to plan to mobilise the broadest support possible at the union branch and local Labour Party level.
LABOUR PARTY At the recent London Labour Party Conference a call was put out to all those interested in organising around the abortion issue inside the Labour Party. This could be the first step in building a real campaigning body within the Labour Party on a national scale which can organise those actively prepared to oppose the Labour Government's attack on this fundamental right of women.
If the National Abortion Campaign puts itself firmly in the forefront of building such actions this could be an important step forward. The NAC has consistently adopted a policy of mass action - and this perspective is more than ever necessary now! DODIE WEPPLER March, To the durg, Muster the waiy Mon 25 FOR CHEAP, reliable IBM typesetting with fast tur No. By frate on Anguiry C1-278 95201.
3 LASGOW Socialist Forums-every Thursday in th ona Community Centre, 7.30p 'HOW TO FIGHT the Crisis in the Public Sector'-IMG rn. Speakers: Bernie Regan (candidate for NUT E› Mike Colley (victimised teacher)
EAST LONDON Troops Out Movement public meet ng. Weds 24 March- The British Army in Ireland, why File End Ral, E1. Speaker: Ner/ Davie RACISM IN AUDI MALIA and the Development o the Black Movement'-public meeting with speaker Su ROOM TO LET in Islington flat for woman comrade £8 + bills. Share bathroom/kitchen. Ring 226 9028 or call at 18 Alwyne Rd, N1 on Saturday morning. ISLINGTON NAC BENEFIT with West Londo ORGANISING Tor Meal - socialst Medical Associa ton one-ody converence, sat er Marcn, rustam-bo at NUR headquarters, Euston Rd, NW1 (almost oppo site custon station Spindsor Castle Hotel, Egan St, Prestor
6 Assembly A general strike and demonstration of 8,000 against the cuts in Dundee; strike action against cuts in services by bus workers in Liverpool; widespread unofficial action against the rail cuts by workers on British Rail's Eastern Region. Everywhere there is Red Weekl class moves forward, the trade union are falling over themselves to retreat The tarnished 'left of yesteryear, recently announced his 'complete an support for the Government's econo
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TOGETHER TO FIGHT
4100 KIDS 500 NURSER PLACES -MISER the Charter
Turna LIST MOKE support NURSE One Gents
surdon, Flat 4,99 Newbold Terrace East ore on making Thur