YOU ARE INVITED TO THE National Working Women's Charter Conference 2181 8n@ 22nc May 1977 at the CITY UNIVERSITY, St. John Street, London EC1 Organised by the Working Women's Charter Campaign for all groups and organisations fighting for the demands of the Charter the specific Incomes poncy Governmen MinISIErs cake.
theme 'For WOMENS HONES NOW Campaign, * Support For All Workers In struggle NOw *As well as the headline-catching disputes at Leyland, Heathrow or Port Talbot there are many others wnich principally involve women workers. trom une better-oreansea sechions of the trade union which is way wien such struzgic: as that which broke out at Trico, or that which continues at Grun WICKS Dicak our wnere a larg Dercentare or women are mvoicu support solidaritv action is needed.
* Equal Pay Now, Against Low Pay, For a national minimum Wage *The Equal Pay and Sex Discrimination Acts were sold as the "social" side of the Social Contract. But they have had little effect on women's living conditions. legislation was grecica by a widen ing of the gap between male and cuts Tomale nour carnes front oug to 56р. 19 of THE WORKING WOMEN'S Charter Campaign have called for hope that the meetings will be to discuss and organise around meetings at every forthcoming trade union conference.
problems women in Proposals for 'kitty bargaining' at present being pushed by are one indication dangers of the labour movement dismissing women's needs and instead wrangling over the distribution of an ever-diminishing At the British Leyland Shop Stewards Conference on 3 April there was one striking feature - the small number of women present. Despite this a statement circulated by the Working Women's Charter received the support of 150 delegates at the Conference. The statement listed a series of demands under the The demands included a number which also apply to male workers, such as those for an end to wage restraint and for pay increases which are linked to price rises. But there were others which applied specifically to women in struggle and which were aimed at making the struggle for women's rights a part of the united fight back against the Social Contract.
Here ANNE CESEK, a member of the IMG working in the explains the importance of these other reported that These ate often isolated made -reaundane movement.
manarcmcni and national strike. No workforce should be For pay deals.' Opposition schemes Against Women evaluanon The first birthday of the of the possible Defend * For A Woman's Right to Work 'A recent national opinion poll General and per cent of married men and 73 percent of recent Women's working wives believe that if the Situator WOrSCIS women should be the first to be Employers spread this type of bigotry to their own advantage. For example. the current hotel strikes in Oxford, propaganda that chamber maids work only for pin money' has appeared in the local press as a way of trying to discredit SCHCHIC against women.' SCCULOR dispensed with, whether through cuts, sackand productivity of Wome To All Grading Discriminate 200-0ra011e schemes are the usual method used No Delay". to monson women in low Dalc jobs. Their jobs are downgraded as that as a way or evading the Equal Pay legislation. But such manoeuvres AUEW Women's Conference in session.
are beginning to be resisted. The Municipal Workers union culmittee a demand to me TUC that account should be taken of job evaluation schemes to which I independent trade unions nave ob jections". The Society of Civil and rubne servants and mne recanica staff side of the engineers' union nave echoes unis demand. walc! should be extended to include the right of veto by all sections of thi trade union movement to grading discriminate * Immediate Submission of Wage Demands that Defend the Interests •Women have waited too long for an adequate living wage. recent wage restraint has had a particularly bad effect on low paid workers. The Trico slogan is the But to put such a slogan into practice it is important much information possible is gathered on womens pay through trade union investigations. . A survey of 30 majo unions in March showed that only na mono ca calms or cold pay. If the trade union movement is to be made aware of the exten of the problems, organised investigations are crucia *There are other immediate steps unar can be taken. m mose arca where report back meetings from the February Railv for Women' Rights haven't These could ed been they should be extended to the organisation of day schools to discuss the Working Womens Charter statement. Most immediately a women's contingent May London strike action and demonstration called by the National Union of Public Employees should be built, and solidarity with the EGA women's hospital and the Grunwick strikers should be fought for in union after union." * Copies of the WW statement can be obtained from Jill Daniels Secretary, Charter Campaign, Camberwell Grove. London SES.
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WHICH WAY FORWARD FOR THE CHARTER CAMPAIGN?