THE labour movement conference on abortion and positive legislation, organised by the National Abortion Campaign (NAC) and the Labour Abortion Rights took place last Saturday.
There unions, 23 from trades councils, and 70 from constituency Labour Parties.
had been so involved in Labour's national executive supported conference.
JOAN TWELVES reports ference and what needs to be done to carry forward the struggle for a woman's right to choose on abortion.
'ONLY the organised labour movement has the sort of muscle that can win changes society that would bring women's rights.
'But the labour movement needs the National Abortion Campaign give a lead U11 positive 'As a sponsor I naturally fully support the general aims of the conference to discuss the ways in which the law may be changed to give women the right to choose tor themselves the right for abortion both in 'I have always believed that the NHS should provide abortion facilities nationwomen who suffer terrible worries and anxieties which non-availability of facilities brings about and which drives them into the private sector or condemns them to bear an MARIE PATTERSON, national officer, Transport 'Not only myself but my union executive is firmly of the opinion that we must maintain the TUC and Labour Party policy on abortion!
BILL SIRS, general secretary, Iron and Steel Trades Congeaeration 'I feel very strongly that the labour movement must not only defend the contents of the '67 Abortion Act but must do everything changing the way in which NHS facilities 'We must ensure that the defence of these facilities is mounted in the most energetic way.
GWYNETH DUNWOODY, MP Campaign (LARC), delegates trade It was the first time that the Labour Party the campaign. the on the conlegislation' that was Kate Holman NAC summed up the teeling at the conference. _ he conterence was an overwhelming success.
Although the Abortion Act is not directly under attack from MPs, the number trade ara available to those needing terminations* unionists and Labour Parly members auenaing lne conference showed that ADO ON clans a col cern of the labour moveMeRL Positive The main discussion on obtaining better facilities for abortion under the National Health Service; repealing the laws an offence, and working legislaLowarus tion for a woman's right to choose when and if to have children.
Over the last few years many trade unions have tion it 1s no longer a minority woman's' issue. But as Kate Holman said: 'In some unions the argument is still not won.
The action proposals aeciaca by ne conrerence will allow delegates to take tne issues DaCK unions and local Labour Parties.
Shadow The support of the trade unions ana TUC in the campaign against Corrie anti-abortion Bill was seen to be a turning point.
Now was the time to go torward to bulla ine pro-choice movement, since, tant general secretary of Workers' LIC Union, explained: 'We are shadow of restnichve legislation.
The conference was a milestone in the campaign Ior a woman's right choose. only did it have many delegates from the unions but for the first time delegates the
NAC/LARC Trade
Union Liaison Committee Tuesday 14 April, 7pm Friends House, Euston Rd, London NWI Meeting to discuss the follow-up to actior proposals passed at the labour movement conference for adoption of candidates who support party policy on abortion.' The 'right' of MPs to voTe according their conscience and not accorAllg to party policy was condemned by Sue Freund Iviarsiana the loud applause of the come cice.
As MP Jo Richardson said, it was important tha abortion was part of the nexu Labour manifesto and that women were top of the agenda' The main theme that came cut or tre comerence was for delegates to go to fight for better facilities for abortion and to lay the support for positive legislation.
tivity were suggested, and the C wil be asked to back demonstrations called in support of legislation to go through Freund put forward the message: "The Coate showed that it is possible for the obiectives of the women's movement to be upheld in Push "The rank and file of the labour movement have been able push the leadership into helping defend women against restrictive legislation.
'It is time,' she added 'that this acauersip stop• ped thinking their consciences abortion and started with their socia and political consciences.
This needs to be taken up by trades unionists and Labour Party members.
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What trade union leaders and MPs say
'It is important to stop the exploitation of in its power to stop the present government