tions about what to do next.
Leeds on 17 and 18 May.
For the past months the attention of pro-abortion campaigners has been concentrated on defending LIC against the encroachment planned by anti-abortionists.
Unlike previous campaigns against restrictive legislation, against Corrie lute campaign began to realise the potential to win support labour move cal for Woman's right to choose'.
essentially • a Although defensive campaign, it organised thousands of people and supporters, WOn particularly in the labour movement.
The fact that the TUC was torcea to can a acmonstrauon on abortion on 28 October not an issue of traditional trade union concern — is a major advance for the whole working class in Britain.
For women fighting their right to choose, it opened up the possibility of campaigning in a new way. Abortion had the TUC'S approval legitimate area of trade union concern.
The existence of the Tory government was a prime factor in pushing the TUC to fulfill its national DI Use demonstration against attacks Despite Corrie's Bill being deprived of the official support of the Tory government, speedy progress through early stages in Parliament was facilitated by the large number of Tory MPs and the tacit support of a high proportion Thatcher's cabinet.
anyone really thought that Tory woman minister would improve general position of women, the Bill rapidly disabused tem or chat nonon AFTER the successful conclusion to the campaign against Corrie's anti-abortion Private Member's Bill, the proabortion movement is faced with some important quesThis issue will be at the centre of the discussion at the National Abortion Campaign conference to be held in Women's jobs, health, aid childcare, all under attack.
Tory ministers make no secret of thinking that women have a cheek to expect to work rather than staying at home.
Even the defeat Corrie Bill has not stemmed the attack on abortion rights. The Department of Health has been using various back door means to limit the functioning of the '67 Act The Advisory Service has had its licence. renewed TOI months — on the trumped-up grounds that it did not have written authority for its advertising!
If the pro-choice movement sits back and rests on its laurels after the defeat of Corrie it will for limited rights to fertility control are once more unael attack.
The '67 Abortion Act does not give women a legal right to choose when or children. The restrictive in that a woman has to prove to two doctors that she has 'grounds' for having an abortion; Tne right abortion in any circumstances ceases after the 28th week of pregnancy, and the National Health Service is not required to provide facilities for aborthe tion.
This is before considering the restrictions on the right to choose that flow from inadequate contraceptive or tion information, unhelpful or anti-abortion prime tors, and so on. the The inadequacies of the present Act have led most pro-choice campaigners to see the fight for better legislation as a necessary step towards winning real choice for women.
NAC has been committed and incomes Many Pregnancy HUSE women's restrictive bill.
SEVCIC foetuses are earlier.
to survive earlier and earlier, rather than whether Act women more right to choose about children, they have less and less right to choose.
An ALRA-type although it might embody a save limited gain, is very dangerous to women in the long term.
NAC is in favour of legisiation that completely decriminalises abortion and choice entirely woman.
There is still a long way to go to win general support for abor- NAC's positions on a woman's right to choose doc- It is highly unlikely that any individual MP would agree to take up such a present political situation. It is unlikely present composition of Parliament such a Bill would even get through its first reading.
for such a Bill would have a real chance of becoming law choose the Labour Party, or a future Labour government, ported it and if there was also widespread support for it in the aims to introduce trade unions and the broad labour movement.
wolel s The labour movement on posiuve iegistation, planneu a 24-week for early next year, should be a major focus for this fight The NAC should endorse the call for this concedes conference and begin the fight for delegates to it over the the new year could once more put the fight rights on an offensive footing.
occause Anna Raeburn and Maureen Colqhuon protesting outside the Houses of Parliament earlier this year against John Corrie's now "viable' As science allows foetuses clear position this allowing NAC tion rights Bill, Labour Partv dynamic propaganda leaves the up to the tivity cannot be to choose Bill now Bill In the fought for now.
The that the of abortion The only situation in which is if nity health councils.
very consuming, of Second, which materials to urge blacking strike speaker for union branch.
It could also put pressure on the Labour Party to take a blegum) women's choice in its next manifesto.
make capital the increased commitment to the struggle for aborMPs, such as Jo Richardson, to step up pressure within the Positive legislation can be a NAC'S and education work. The opportunity should not be allowed to slip by.
Immediate campaigning acfocussed preparing for a woman's right - such a Bill is the object of a long-term fight. But there are possibilities of improvements that can be mandatory provision facilities on the NHS could be accomplished by a change to the 1977 NHS Act.
There is definite support for a campaign to this end, from Jo to local commuIt would not only expose the inadequacy of the present Support Chix! * Join the picket, from 6.30am each day. Chix is on the Farnham Road on Slough Trading Estate. * Get Chix boycotted by shops (sweet cigarettes and bub* Collect money for the strikers * Raise Chix in your trade union or LP branch, take collections and send messages of support. * Organise in your area to get people to support the boycott of supplies to the factory. * Organise a support committee in your area. Donations and Messages of support to: Mohammed Anwar, 271 Goodman Park, Slough, Berks.
Information and offers of help Regional Official, GMWU, 154 Brent Street, London NW4. Tel: 01 202 0071.
Organised by Slough Trades Council & Berkshire Associating Trades Council.
WOMEN'S PICKET AT CHIX Wednesday 21 May, from 6.30am.
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14 May - TUC Day of Action DEMONSTRATE OUTSIDE CHIX starting at 10.00am