effect own suspended that had branch taken by. branch. would be consider that motivated by the fact that Lever allowed to return to work after two reinstated after a five-week suspension, but the two women senior secretaries who remained in the council's employ (the third had left in disgust for another job) had to accept re-deployment to were to be sacked at the end of May They duly refused, on the grounds that allegall acceptance meant acknowledging that But on 16 May the union fightback had at last got underway. A meeting of the NALGO branch executive declared 'null and void' the earlier decision by a rump of its executive to criticise Lever this and Parks. The vote was 28 to 15, with This reversal came a day before some metropolitan district council expressed instructed the district council's officers to investigate the handling of the whole affair. The meeting also called for the complainants and the union representafurious response from the 800 members of NALGO's Brent branch who attended a special general meeting on 24 May.
Arthur Steer had made no secret of his version of the events. As far as he was concerned, Mike Parks and Jeff Lever, both left-wingers, had gone out of their way to look for the complaints to use as coerce part of the left-right battle within the wrong, though, to Steer's position was had stood against him as branch secretary last year, securing 492 votes to Steer's 513. WE ARE not in a position comment on the truth or falsity of t of sexual harassmel made by women employees of Bre council, which were the prelude to ti course of events detailed above.
Such harassment is, experience for women work. In Britain, there has so far bei little discussion and still less action issue within movement. But there have significant moves in North Ame We publish here major exce resolution adopted a convention of the British Col Federation of Labor last Nove More than 1,000 delegates, ґер ing a quarter of a million C workers, were present. The reso was submitted by the Feder women's rights committee Sexual harassment is di to define. It may range sexual innuendo priate times, perhaps in the g humour, to coerced sexual re Harassment at its extrem! when a male in a position to influence, or affect a women s career uses his authority and p the into relations, or to punish ger re Because the male is in a pos authority, as a supervisor a therefore, may be at great objects to the behaviour or! Contd on page 5
It is this context which UCuC. badendes cae gravıly orure yroulelet • sexual Harassmenl.
A woman cannot freely choose to say yes or no to such sexual advances. The fear of reprisal looms formidably for many women when deciding how 1o react to refuse sexual demands may jeopardising her future or her career. Like rape, sexual harassment has been a hidden problem, treated as a joke, or blamed on the vietim herself.
Because ola silence on the subject, i feel üncomfortable, embarrassed, or ashamed when they talk personal incidents They are afraid that it will reflect badly on their character, or that they will be seen as somehow inviting the propositions.
When women do speak out they accused of 'misunderstanding' superior's intentions.
A study conducted on this subject in 1975, showed that in 50 per cent of registered no action was taken. In one COLDILLS Were repercussions resulted.
wannel responsibility to protect them from Unfortunately, in many instances they do not believe that anything can be done or that the union would be willng to protect taelmovement must clearly demonstrate that it is not prepared to allow any of be intimidated coerced. To this end the recommendations:
To mean history of Wany wucI about harassment.
'There will be demonstration that demonstration.
CP will
basis that the withdrawal from Ireland'.
Were demonstration's demand, the welcome step solidarity initiatives in Britain.
This will.
re ablI march.
The CP's youth the women's following should CHRIS MYANT, assistant editor of the Morning Star, declared last week:
Communist Party members taking part on the 12 August and there will be Communist Party banners present on But Myant went on to say that the the Sponsors demonstration, which is called on the government should 'commit itself to a policy of N vant exo ained at a 'troons out' debate at the Communist University on 9 July: 'We don't consider that the key and central key and central demand which should be raised within Nevertheless, the promise of CF presence on the London march is forward for Irish the first Communist Party members will have joined with 'troops out' supporters in a joint protest, although CP members wil nol, presumabiy, De part of lat "troops out now' contingent on the section, the Young Communist League, has gone ole siep turmer tan tue sellor party and agreed to act as sponsors. So has the Connolly Association, which also has links with the CP, and the New Individual sponsors of demonstration now include members of the House of Lords, 14 MPs, and Alf member of the Hurooean Parliament.
the The full list of MPs reads: Cyril fonT Smith, Joan Maynard, Stan Thorne, Maguire, Frank Richardson, sUHSUIb attracted wider number of years.
the movement its full support:
concentrated Lomas, •a . Labour University on Challenge. David Alton, Ernie Roberts, Frank Syd Bidwell, Leo Abse, Dobson, Clive Soley, J0 Jock Stallard, Kevin MacNamara, and Reg Race.
Bob Wright, the assistant general secretary of the Engineering Union, is of the many individaa The demonstration will mark the tenth anniversary of the sending in of British troops on to the streets of the North of Ireland, and already it has support than any previous initiative on Ireland fer a There are prominent sponsors from the women's movement, such as Spare Rib Collective; from the pacifist movement, such as the Peace Pledge Union; and from the labour at least seven trades councils have given their backing.
The International Marxist Group has called a national mobilisation of alt lis mennders ane League of Young Liberals has given now needs be on realising the potential of 12 August, both in the sense of building the demonstration in general and specifically bulding the uroous outlew contngell.
*The debate at the Communist "troops out' WIJl published in a future issue of Socialisi