RESPONDING to an appeal by the National Abortion Campaigu, Trades Union Congress has issued a call for a demonstration against the Corrie Bill in October.
In a statement to Friday, TUC general secretary Len Murray said:
'The proposals before Parliament today will seriously reduce the ability of women to influence their own lives. As it is, the availability of abortion is heavily dependent on where a woman lives, how much money she has and whether she is fortunate enough to see a sympathetic doctor.
'No women contemplates
inating her pregnancy Nonetheless it is essential for women to retain the ultimate right to refuse to pregnancy firmly Abortion Act 1967 as it now stands.
the present provision of NHS abortion services in many areas, the effects of Mr Corrie's proposals may well be a return to the horrors of backstreet abortionists for The decision of the TUC to call for unprecedented. Nowhere in the worly demonstration has a major tradé union confederation called mass action in defence of a women's right to choose.
However, much work will have to be done realise the potential in the TUC call. The first signs of this came when the TUC call was greeted with a deafening silence by the mass media.
Moreover, despite many of the excellent paper positions the labour movement has taken on women's rights, the gap between these words and action has been marked.
NAC has understood this and has called for a 'sympathetic lobby' of the TUC General Council meeting next Wednesday, 25 July, to ask for the date for the demonstration to be set for 27 October.
NAC has also put out a call for all those who want to make demonstration a big success to join a the second reading (see page 3).
the press last restrictions on the 1967 Act.
Bill is a reality.
termlightly. national mobilising committee. The call came at a rally called last Friday to oppose the passing of the Bill's If Corrie's Bill is to be defeated, it will require mass action of tens of thousands of people on the streets. It will need a fight for every Labour MP to adhere to party policy against any The TUC pledge now means that the possibility of defeating the Corrie But only if every 1053. Prat hoice minto fies to one list pledge into thousands.
Join the lobby of the TUC General Council on Wednesday 25 July. 9am, Congress House, Great Street, WC1. For information on the October Mobilising Committee write or phone the National Abortion Campaign, Grays Inn London WC1X 8BB. Tel: 01-278 By Bob Pennington THIS WEEK, Thatcher, a large group of Tory MPs will vote to re-introduce hanging.
The idea of tying a rope around someone's neck to judicially break it, will be preached as a deterrent to violence.
Russell In well-bred, plummy accents, the hanging brigade will give chapter and verse on bow hanging will save the lives Road, unprotected.
These bumanitarian homilies will be uttered by the same people who support Pinochet and Videla.
They are the ones who will defend the gentlemen of the SPG against the outrage over Blair Peach's murder. None of them ever called for the hanging of those gunned down unarmed demonstrators on that Bloody Sunday in Derry.
But the hanging brigade is inconsistent.
M.
innocent and the hang us.
other paratroops who for their won't They want the state their state - to be given the right to legally murder their opponents.
Capitalism is based on force. Behind every law stands the means of enforcement, be it the police officers with their powers of 'sus, th deprivation of liberty, or the rope.
I am not sure whether it is 'better' or 'worse' being incarcerated bebind bars for life, or being hung. am sure about is that we must oppose giving our exploiters the power to There is no doubt that they will use that power - like they use all their powers to terrorise and intimidate the exploited Today, they will argue that they want wat power to terrorise lne Ir8l people who have the audacity to fight freedom, although they Tomorrowthey will want to use i as. quite weapon against many other