A WO Socialist Challenge 24 June 1982 page 10 Lop plus 15p pap;
Sp for 100 or more post free DEMOCRACY was the hottest debate at con erence. Among proposals passed were • Five resolutions to go from the women's conference to the Labour Party conference union representation • The women's office to be fully resourced and given no additional work by the Labour Party Seven out of eiaht members of the incomin‹ Standing Orders Committee are supporters of th Campaign for Labour Party Democracy A proposal for the women's executive to be conference decision the reciona conterences The trade unions were SCeN obstacle to democracy and even as irreversibl right-wing.
But as Steph Grant, a delegate Birmingham Soho and TGWU member pointed VUL. "The Labour Party should be ashamed of itself for being so far behind the unions in taking up the demand for positive unions, everyone must are the backbone of any effective fight for women's rights; and democracy in the Labour Party can only be conquered alongside democracy in the unions.
Trade union delegates spoke against women's NEC representatives because they would carve out trade union women. The answer erence to the NEC — with discussion around trad elected by conference was defeated, but last year's - for executive election from Stones is for unions to increase their representation at the women's conference, and for this conference to give weighting to trade union delegates in its NEC slate The right-wing exposed their fear of socialism when they opposed sending five resolutions from the women's conference to We ray comerence course they don't want left 1OLall issues inside the Labour Party. Moreover the proposal will ensure that women's issues are not dropped off the bottom Party conference's agenda.
But it is a wrong emphasis to concentrate on Labour Party internal democracy alone, or on making next year's conference more like women's conference. Most trade union women will be mobilised behind the left's policies: but that is why the rightwing will try to defeat the gains of this conference.
The next step is to build really solid support in the unions for its decisions All women's sections and wollens should be out campaigning in support of the health workers, setting Labour Party public meetings and organising collections. Trade union delegates should be encouraged to participate in women's councils, and the left should champion factory branches.
Joint Labour Party and trade union schools on issues like positive action were proposed in One the motions. These could be used to work out a comstrategy; IS enough for Labour Party Icecs do a votes to be active in their trade unions. The should organise around their policies the unions.
women are showing the way ward to the rest movement this is the way to fight the witchhunt; this is the way streets against this To mobilise women with tee mous a sucha way that said trade unions had to send womer delegates to conference in female members. This was seen as dictating to the unions. We voted for positive ac tion and abortion. This is our umon policy personally agreed Composite although I think we have to be careful about telling unions how to organise. think there needs be greater understanding between the trade union section and the CLP/ Women's section or ine conference. I'm as active I my amon as l am in tne Hazel Macpherson, NUR I am in favour of mandates; as a trade delegate to the conference voted according to man dates throughout, because it's part of the process of accountability. What concerns me is the process Di which union policy is arrived at in the first place, and the lack of involvement of women in the union in that process I'm in favour of a more democratic annual general meeting within the union, also I'm in favour of the NUR executive pro. posal to organise tional conference of NUR women although think this has to go hand in hand with special structures throughout the union I think the system of a block vote based on female membership only democracy debate. They saw the changes as being an attack the unions because uney saw ll as lak ing away their power. It's never really been thought out.
COHSE delegate I've been asked to give the vote of thanks at this conference - I'm please about that but I'm n sure what I'm going to say. I didn't support th platform time; think that the younger women at this conference want is good but we've got to get the trade unions to agree as well.
would mean firstly that the mandate would mean something to delegates and secondly that the con ference itself would become much more important. The block vote would provide a focus for discussion the union.
The democracy debate at conference was very important, and parallels the debate taking place in the unions. But it was unfor tunate that this debate wasn't linked to policy it became abstract. I think Trade Union delegations responded as they did to the democracy debate after having voted con sistantly the left on tion and
AS PEOPLE leave court 2 in Leeds Town Hall they cry, embrace and cheer as the tension of eleven months of struggle released. It is Wednesday 16 June. The jury has just returned a not guilty verdict on the remaining eleven defendants in the Bradford Twelve trial, on charges of making explosives with intent to endanger life or property, and of conspiracy to make explosives for an unlawful purpose. As they leave the court for the last time, and suffering is