THE THREAT by the Bakers' Union to call a national strike for equal pay from 27 February is the most dramatic evidence yet of the limits of Labours legislation.
Like the women recently on SinKe Tanavox East London. the Bakers' Union is nignung ine employers use of grading to dodge the Equal molemendon or Pay Act. Although the grading of lobs. together witn low pay job evaluation schemes and training are the real barriers to equal pay for the majority of Act has nothing at all to say about any of them.
Line Sex Discrimination Act is riddled similar roopnoles. Nowhere does 11 take up the real material basis oI womens ecually example, child care, financial and legal independence with regard to social security and pensions, abortion and contraception rights. nese OMIS sions relegate the Act to the realm of goodwill: a token attempt to improve the position or women in socier Trouet d changing of ammudes between Ne SEXES Both Acts fail, basico thou do not niltino a solution to womens problems which chanences mei act. tional place as wife and mother.
window dressing behind which basic allacks rights to equality and independence are being carried out.
The Sex Discrimination Act arose out of the commitment in Labours a electon mani festo to 'a charter for women'. At me same time, nowever, a very different Charter was being drafted old Trades Council - the Working women senater Unlike Labour's COOKEO committee rooms of the House commons Women's Charter was born out of the struggles and experiences of women in the workplace, the community and the nome. i arew togetner m its demands the decades of strug. gle for equal pay and for equal in ecucalion. Dontes, socidE SEE vices, taxation, pensions and The unifying thread was an understanding that cannot obtain equality independence in the spneres oi fact, work, cocial and financial life unless they can extend and develop choices in the 'private' area of the home - in other words, unless they can win the right to decide when and wnewer have children, sequent avanaointy equate maternity provision so inat pregnancy does notactas a barrier to achievement outside These choices can only be sustained by the social provision of child care, by breaking financial dependence LORCOR male 'breadwinner equality in the areas of social security and pensions, isolated increased securing responsibility by the State for the upkeep of children. overawine tovemer mnese threads which position in the tamily and their oppression and exploitation in other areas of life, the Working Women's Charter lays the basis for the full and equal integraof tion of women into society. The Cranen nas for under which the ideas devel oped in ine women sLideration Movement can be fought for and witnin me working class as a whole. with the sub20through and by financial link women's emerged sharp Government has aimed at HUFoCEy