of women since the Equal Pay and Sex Government and the 'behind-thedoors' deal worked out has resulted the legislation, growing movement for against theSocial Contract.
home often the first out of the gate.
been powerless workers. differentials. THE DEMANDS of the Working Women's Charter highlight the fact that the Labour Government's atand the Social Contract cut across any gains women may have made through and set back the - coual Day now But the struggles which women have had to face not only reveal the week; limitations of the legislation - the also show the way to struggle. And part of that struggle is a struggle * The Social Contract has led to cuts in social spending arrecung nurser facilities, abortion clinics, education and so on. The state is shrugging off more and more responsibilities which have to be borne by women within the * The Social Contract has led to greater unemployment, with womer ne social contract nas ica to a drastic decline in real wages. Whilethe Equal ray Act nas brougnt some exceptional increases in pay, it has to confront the general low pay situation of women The attempts to cobble together Phase 3 of the pay policy, in line with ine needs ot the employers, will once again mean that women's needs are sacrificed. The current call by union leaders is for "greater flexibility by which they mean a restoration of asa whole.
*flexibility' which will push low paid workers (the vast majority women right to the back of the queue.
been especially hame ree more of CHUE places movement nas playeo di importan role in raisino ine cemane tortee Such policies can only divide the working class. Yet unity in action is what is needea to cercat une oocia Contract — a unity based on demands which can unite low paid and higher paid, women and men. Against the wage cuts imposed by the Labour and TUC leaders we therefore fight for:
- national minimum wage of £50 a - full automatic compensation for every rise in the cost of living; - across-tne-board wage increases te compensate for the effects of inflation under Phases 1 and Z The struggles in which women have been involved over the past year show the extent to which they are prepared to take up the fight. The women a Trico and Magnavox, like the members of the Bakers' Union, recognised that they would only gain their equal pay demands by taking the struggle into their own hands and ignoring the legal diversion of the tribunals set up by the Labour Government The same is true of the fight against Ine curs, with the occupation of the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Hospital, the militant demonstrations by the Lancashire nursery campaign, and the massive mobilisation of women in the strike action against the cuts on 17 November. These actions map out the type of campaign which is needed, and underline the fact that women's neeas nave to be detendea by te class But what role are the Labour and trade union leaders playing in all this?
rights, they have refused to stand up 24-hour nurseries under the communitY contrO orovision of nurseries which would take the sole burden for child care from the woman in the family and make it a social resand be counted when it comes to opposition to the Social Contract But they won't be let off the hook so easily.
We must demand that they add their weight and support to every struggle and every action in defence of women s neeas and inose oun working class as a whole. Those who at all levels of the movement) must be pushed aside to Шаке way toi militants who are prepared to give the fighting lead that is needed to take forward these struggles Central to this fight is the struggle for the demands or ine working Women's Charter and their adoption by the TUC and the Labou NEC — as well as the development of the campaign organised around it The Charter Campaign can take forward the fight for the necessar demands and forms of organisation which will ensure the паліни! participation of women.
Without a fight against the Labour Government's attacks, the Equal Pay and Sex Discrimination Acts are not worth the paper they are written on. Equally, while scapegoats are sought amongst the organised amongst immigrants and women (wnose jobs are seen as aispensabic) and while women's needs are dismis sed as 'luxuries', the full energies of the workers movement are diverted awav from the real culprits - th capitalist class and its agents inside the Labour Government.
It is that understanding, and action fromit, for which we must fight at the Rallyand afterwards. ponsibility would be an important step in the fight for yet this is not even mentioned i me ber Discid tion Act, Labours great git to