victory for women in tain.
for • Cals women's the National Abortion movement.
trade unionists special labour year.
have children.
the NAC/Labour liaison committee unionists.
unions The defeat of John Corrie's membership restrictive abortion Bill in fight. March was a tremendous BriIt was the culmination of an National alliance that had been growing Employees and through Campaign, and the organised labour NAC now intends to build on that support by calling on all cessfully movement con- Trades ference in February of next The conference will discuss and he facilities improved ed be changed allow women to have the right to choose when and whether to paigning Kate Holman, a member of Abortion Rights Campaign trade union considers that fertility control is an issue that is relevant to all trade 'Until women can choose when to have children they will continue to be forced into low-paid unskilled jobs,' who is a member of nalists' Equality Working Party, feels that if women can plan their lives they will be able to play a much more active role within the trade union movetrade union has increased dramatically over the past ten years. Women have been joining trade unions at the rate of 164,000 each year, and they now comprise 28 per cent of Despite the difficulties they face in participating in a movement that is not geared to dealwho have responsibilities, Not surprisingly it was the with a large female which led this 1975 the Tobacco Workers' Union got the TUC to adopt a policy of abortion on 1979 was the Union of Public the National Union of Journalists which put a resolution to the Women's TUC calling for the tion take action on their policy and call a demonstration against any restrictive legislation.
The tobacco workers sucraised this. the Union Congress reachad a char mandate te which meant that the call the 28 October demonstration against the Corrie Bill.
However, the TUC leaders have so far confined their camabortion to defensive stand. Despite their policy for abortion on request, and also for day-care facilities to be made available on the NHS, they have not emphasisEY GITHA SOWEREY ed that abortion should be a woman's decision and that the law needs to be improved to allow women that choice.
This is why the National Abortion Campaign has called conference win active labour movement support for a get local authorities to provide free abortion facilities. This is seen as the first step towards legislawhich finally allows women to decide what they car do with their own body and their life.
If your union is committed a pro-abortion position, make sure it is represented on the NAC/Trade Union Liaison Committee which is planning the conference If your trade union branch is not yet affiliated to NAC, invite a speaker and make sure it IF you would like speakers or further information, NAC.can be contacted at: 374 Grays Inn Road, London WCI.
PRESEN National Abortion Campaign Benefit