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The goals set by the organisers of the Rally were clearly carried through: the lessons of women's experience in struggle for their rights were firmly drawn through the day in both speeches and the wide array of colourful and informativestalls.
Speaker after speaker recounted how women's rights could not be won through relying on the Sex Discrimination and Equal Pay Acts. The message - coming through loud and clear - was that women needed to organise to derend then rightsand extend them.
Sister Desai, of the Grunwick Strike Committee, received one of most resouncine rounds applause. She forcefully explained COW Ine pay, comDuIson overtime, regimented working contreatmen women were rampant despite the BARRIERS Carol Ames, a West London speakers giving personal evidence of discriminaton ana the barriers sne nad contronted in the maze or legal machinery used Dv me her tribunals are there to do a job — and Wel to provide stumbling block women.
"Another of the hurdles is the trade union bureaucracy. Mv union - the NUT - will take up women'st sues, bur wien it comes down eu doing anything and giving support, women I was told it was impossible... We musn't use the legislation as a couch to lie back on, but as a springboard to go forward."
The final session of the Rally was filled with speakers from many campaigns and organisations involved in igning for tose women s rights wnich are not even mentoned in the Acts.
speakers included those from the Women's Liberation Campaign for Write to RED WEEKLY (distribution) 97 Caledonian Road, Lon for London Nursery Campaign, the Child Benefits Campaign, Gingerbread, the NUS Women's Campaign, EGA Occupation.
One of the most forceful calls to action in the final session came from Dr Berry Beaumont, speaking on behalf of the National Abortion CanDalon She explained that any number of tne so-called equal rignes laws that this Labour Government wants 1o boast about cannot chance nat basic reality — that until women are through safe and effective contraception ЯПО Tree demand, they will not be able to win Labour's record on abortion was appalling, said Dr Beaumont. 'Let's be clear that Labour MPs have been is a class issue, and abolish the free vote, restrictions on abortion will continuc.
The Working Women's Charter Hospital Sister Desai of the Grunwick Strike Committee Thursday's anti-Benyon march. [inset] Astrid Lever of LARC was a woman.
Hospital Campaign, one of the prime movers behind the Rally, provided the final speaker. Perspectives for taking the fight for the demands of the Charter WEEKLY The former Strike Committee at Trico's sent a message to the Rally, regretting theirabsence, stating:
*We wholeheartedly support your fight for FULL rights for women and the abolition of any laws or contention that they are in any way second class citizens.
'We are confident that the battle for equality and the removal of sex discrimination, of which our strike was a valuable part, will be won. We congratulate you on your effort and send our best wishes fora successful rally.
A member of SOGAT since the 1930s, Betty Tebbs told how the union bureaucracy had chopped her from the national executive because she were outlined. United national actions in support struggles like those at the EGA •and Grunwicks were DATE placed at the centre of the continuing work of the Charter Campaign.
The Charter Campaign has also April, the day before the British Leviano snoo stewaros conrerenc against the Social Contract. As the leafletissued by the Campaign at the PROTO. ANGELA PHILLIPS (IRL)
Kally explamed: anis gives us ar excerent ooportunity coensure una women's rights become an integral fighthack against Future activities of the Chartel Campaign will be discussed at its 2nd National Conference called tol 22 May at City University in London. Further details from Jill Daniels, la Camberwell Grove, London SE5.
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About 2,000 people, representing a broad range of campaigns and organisations of the women's and labour movement took part in a national rally to assess Labour's Alexandra at