Alex Kitson receiving a bouquet from women delegates at the Labour Party conference. They were angry at his patronising attitude to them. VALERIE in members of the Council (GLC) Labour Group which took office in the spring. the GLC's Industry and Employment Committee and committed JUDITH ARKWRIGHT asked her about the sort of policies she wants to see the GLC implementing on behalf of women.
What do vou think are the main problems facing women todays Unemployment really the major issue women have to face at the moment. That and cuts in Scarves.
Unemployment London t's a high as in Liverpool.
In Stepney and Poplar, for instance, one in four of the male ovulativil and one in five of the female population is unemployed.
You think that the Gle you think that the Labour Manifesto offers enough in terms of policies equal opportunities for woment Our manifesto is very weak on women. That's up by men. They tend to that everything that is proposed will help well wrong. There are specific questions which men don't ser Members of the GLC and ILEA who consider mense ver Socialshave begun to regularty wild olne. similarly committed women Labour Partv members. We are looking at the Manifesto and trying to broaden it to reflect the needs of women London.
What sorts of policies have you been considering?
One example of the sort of policy we are looking at is the proposals we are makrelation the Greater London Enterprise Board (GLEB).
vesting in public operatives, Socialist Challenge of eight women 49 strong Greater London She is also Vice-Chairperson of socialist feminist.
enterprise and municipal enterprise as part of the GLC's Alternative Economic Strategy Investment will be on conaltion community and shopstewards committees involved in drawing up local planning agreements.
These planning agreements need include a positive action programme for women. The GLEB Icast has with enterprises could include clauses about the number of part-time jobs, the provision of day care facilities and equal pay for work of equal value.
The GLC has a massive supplies depot for London boroughs and, here again, we le work ng on a code o conduct. We could refuse 12 November 1981 Valerie Wise to deal with firms that don't comply When the GLC sets up direct labour organisation, London Community Builders, could lay down guidelines lor traling womel — say one in every five apprentices should be a woman.
'd been in favour of an actual system than this but its illegal ar further the moment.
I'm also planning organise a conference women and employment a working conference trade unionists, projects and so forth.
Corner questions have you been concern. ed with?
One issue we've been looking into is sexist advertising. Some of us feel we should have a committee women to look into this.
The GLC has the classification A,X or private club view ing only.
I may be puritanical but I think a lot of these films exploit want to use our powers to make mem privale club viewing only so that fewer people will see them Censorship of degree has to be used while women are exploited. Men see they aren't being degraded Some of us want to take up adverts on the underground posters like the one for the Shining Bond tims It's degrading and it's enthe wrong women can incite violence and TOI women travelling late at Were going meet with the managing director of buses to work out a code of conduct of what is acceptable.
Have you thought about improving educational opportunities tor giris in the Inner London Education Authority (ILEA) area?
There Which the could ake are specific now to bring about equa opportunities in schools. It could appoint advisers for promoting Equal Opportunities in schools and inspect schools to see that equal provision is being made The appointment and promotion of female and male staff could monitored and in service training to encourage the development of non-sexist practices introduced.
For schools which are re-organising 'schoads, coeducational nonsexis established want the GLC to be able to put some of these policies into practice while we're here we want to show we've got an alternative We have to encourage women inside and outside I think a future Labour Governmen should change the law to help wunich. for example to allow for quotas But changing the law is the only means to achieve women's rights -you can use legislation l back up the tight wome are already making.