LITTLE noted, and greatly underestimated, thousands of women fighting against terrible odds to hold onto their jobs.
At a recent public meeting Ladywood (Labour) Women's Council in Birmingham Brenda Clarke told of her fight for the right to work and her setting up of a campaign for part-time workers. Valerie Coultas gives this report.
BRENDA CLARKE lost hier job as a part-time gatekeeper Imperial Metal Industries in Birmingham. Her the TGWU, agreed management's sack all part-timers. 1o the Equal Opportunities Commission union convenor from her jactory spoke against her reinstatement. She lost her appeal.
She has appealed against the verdict of the tribunal not to re-instate her on the grounds that her Britain are sponsored by children are grown up and therefore she is eligible for full-time employment.
IMI have offered her a production joh but she wants her old job back.
She is angry about her and the trearconvertor the part-time workers received. But she Is not anti-union despire the impression given SDP-supporter Polli Toynbee in a Guardian article.
MY colleague and I were employed as gatekeepers. responsible for security at IMI. Joan Clarke worked from 7-12. I worked from 10-5, person worked from 5-10.
We were, in effect, ioh sharing. regularly worked 30 hours or more each week.
Both of us were the 'breadwinners' in family because our husbands were out of work All the wonde members of the Transport Workers General Union. In January the entered into a plant agreement.
Item five of that agreement said that part-timers should go full-timers. Then and only then it should be first in first out.
The convenor held i stewards' meeting and on the Wa.
agreement. The Tell l"
evening shop steward objected but the majority were in favour was mass held and each proposal in the agreement was put and each proposal carried Ine part-liner. voted against the full-timers. All the part-timet were women.
On 23 October we were asked to leave the company and Joan Clarke was replaced by full-timer with three months service.
10months' SCIVIL We resolved to do something about this and secured the support of the National Council for Civil Liberties.
Sandra Powell has a three-year-old daughter Tribunal recommended she should be re instated On I January, given her job back Our campaign has rightly been called charter 1OI working 12 Astan youths charged with Conspiracy face life imprisonment for fighting Racism.
THE ONLY CONSPIRACY IS POLICE CONSPIRACY but been Tus. tempered he children have grown up.
The convenor came as a witness for management.
cross-examined about his actions he said nan only necame award of the TUC resolution not •scriminale part-timers after he had agreement Dul that he didn't support it nd suggested that he • was bound by the union block VULC There is no doubt that we part-timers are thought of as second-class citizens and that's why we decided to set up a campaign.
If you want more informa about the part-lime workers campaign contac Brenda Clarke, 21 Ensdon Grove. Kingstanding, Birmingham B-+4 0QH.
National Demonstration
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Savile Mount Park SAT 3 APRIL LEEDS