'IN general the Equal Pay Act can do nothing tackle the disproportionate concentration of women in low-paid industries occupations.' That was the verdict of the Women's TUC on the Labour government's attempts to give equality with men at work.
Women's pay in 1978 and 1979 fell even further behind men's. The declining number of discrimination she seperated from her husband.
as red to the Equal Opportunities Commission 1976, to 108 in 1979) indicates to the dwindling enthusiasm that working women have for the and More often EOC dismisses their case and has in any case puny powers to force employers tions to stop discriminating.
The time has come for the women labour movement to re-assess its attitude to equality at work.
The programme Labour Party, discussed at the special conference on 31 May, cases refer- makes no mention CATHIE Dobie (above) an engineer at Rolls Royce in Hillington, Scotland, was sacked for changing her name when name when 1,742 than not the Labour Party feminist labour movement.
compare men's equal pay. of Because largely level for all workers. equality legislation. Yet Tony Benn and others on the left in the Labour Party have begun the EEC and win. to make overtures to activists within the women's movement, not take up the suggesting that they join the women integrate economic demands into the ward Equality at work will not be gained simply by attempting to Party and work women's work as the basis for women's work is different from men's the only way to immediately boost their wages is to fight negotiations low pay by forcing employers to establish a minimum wage choloyals place.
mingham But even tacking low pay is Women need union backing now to take such cases to The labour movement will demands of prescul sitaution • unless women themselves come forand articulate their demands, both in the Labour within the trade Women need to ensure that we are fully represented when between and take The Fightback conference called for this weekend in Birprovides active in the labour movement with an excellent opportunity to discuss how a campaign can which tells Tower Hamlets Festival for Saturday 21 June.
The aim of the event is to highlight the way in which the Tory government is trying to whittle away many hard won rights of women and to discuss how to fightback.
Women in Tower Hamlets feel confident that they can organise a fight back. 'We have had our successes,' says Trina Shane, & member of the women's sub-committee of the trades council. 'We fought for a day-care abortion clinic and won it. We built a local anti-Corrie group and helped to defeat that Bill. We're having a festival to celebrate our ability to organise in this way?
Tower Hamlets Women's Festival, Saturday 21 June, 12-6pm, Oxford House, Derbyshire Street, E2, Social in the evening with "Jam Today' at Fairholt House, Commercial St., Aldgate East, whole labour movement that women need positive action if we are to move nearer equality with men at work.
The Women Fightback conference takes place in Birmingham at Digbeth Hall this Saturday, 21 June, Ham-5pm. Socialist Challenge supporters will be meeting on Friday night at 8.30pm trades council is planning a Women's
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Tower Hamlets women's festival