Management is quite happy about this situation. After all, a recent survey by the Department of Employment showed that two thirds of senior management are opposed to equal pay - and management do Discrimination Act - A Rally for Women's Rights'. Its aim is to bring win, tails you lose. But perhaps the best example of the inadequacy of the Equal Pay Act is the continuing strike at Trico-Folberth in Brentford. After 20 weeks, management has still not backed down from their attempts to bring about equal pay by reducing the men's rate to the women's level.
First they offered £2.50. Then they took the case to a tribunal which the union boycotted. When the tribunal supported their case, they claimed this meant there was already equal pay at the factory. changed their mind and offered the women 50p and the 4½ per cent pay deal - and the men nothing. Last week they generously added another 50p, bringing the grand total to £3.50. The strikers, who want £6.50, tore this 'offer up.
And it's not just the Equal Pay Act. legislation is almost a year old, but as Jo Richardson MP told a mass meeting of Trico strikers, there are loopholes galore for the bosses to crawl through. Anti-discrimination legislation has left social security and tax regulations intact, while things like nursery provision are the first victims of the Government's cuts.
mounting unemployment and cuts strengthening the grip of family responsibilities which deny women independence and equality.
Charter Rally For these reasons Red Weekly welcomes the rally launched by the Working Women's Charter Campaign -together trade unionists, women's groups, labour movement bodies and every campaign fighting for women's rights. Through speakers, theatre groups, exhibitions and much more it wants militants to exchange their experiences on the fight for women's rights in light of the Government's legislation - what progress has inadequate, what needs to be done to make equality a reality The rally has already received support from a number of Labour MP's and dozens of delegates to the recent TUC and Labour Party conferences On 16 October the first planning meeting for the rally takes place with representatives from all women's and labour movement organisations invited to attend, Campaign. Red Weekly calls on its supporters to give the fullest possible support to this rally. By making it an important event in the life of the labour and women's movement, we can begin to stem the tide of attacks on women's rights.
RALLY: One Year on from the SDA - A Rally for Women's Rights, Saturday, 26 February 1977, Alexandra Palace, London PLANNING Association, Bedford Square, London-in the Planning Lecture Theatre For intormation and sponsorship forms, write to: Liz Hambleton, Lowther Hill, London SE23 1PZ.