Steering capacity.
THE END of September saw the second national Women's Birmingham, from 40 different groups around the country. The weekend was very full, with discussion about our perspectives, and the nature of Women's Voice. Workshops were held on abortion, the teave, housing, Liberation Movement, building WV groups in the community, and the revolutionary party. It was a great opportunity different experiences and get to know each other.
The Steering Committee report highlighted that, for quite a small organisation, been very active over the past year. WV groups vary in size and make up, but most are based in localities and campaign on two or three main issues, such health cuts, supporting local struggles of women at work. Almost all do sales of the magazine in shopping centres, estates, and so on.
The few workplace groups, like Fleet Street, which is working around the new technology and a nursery, are an example of what can be done over the next year. The Tory attacks on working women, from cuts in the welfare state to reduction of maternity rights, means that groups based at work will be even more needed.
•rackets on the sist HIONY MARASM Dy uncan Malas (24.ou THE SPACE MERCHANTS caulion by ine Zonisis and the resince LIbI C THE WORLD ON GUr by. Malcolm Pitt (2.95)
NAME ADDRESS Socialist Chalenge Committee in a personal conference attended by about 200 women specific campaigns, cuts, maternity the history of the Women's technology, workplace and for women share we had abortion, The Sadly, conference •Bookmarx Club • LiSt A below plus those on one other list of vour choice. Extra lists can be sent in ine tort subscription, you will save pounds on the retail value of the books (shown in IN CABILE Or MI SAIl George Lamming (1.50 Ine HoUSe Or HUNGER with the AN it mary of the childhia.
LIST E TESTAMENT OF YOUTH by Vera Brittain (f.75) i want of young girls lie before THE MONOCLED MUTINEER by Allison and Fairley (1.95)
Saecial ofters to Bookmarx Members BACKS MY SONG IS MY OWN (on 2095 me pos THE RUSSIAN E for £4.75. in I wish to join/ rejoin Bookmarx and enclose 14.50 (+E2.50 for each extra listi i - Send to BOOKMARX CLUB, 265 Seven Sisters Road, London, 18 October 1979 Page 10 A paper saw wy as i campaiged to this arguments. Our opposition to the Corrie Bill, position, rather we say that abortion must be This platform of Women's Voice, which 'Women's Voice is an organisation that fights for women's liberation and socialism. We fight contraception; we fight against all forms of orientation, or race. Women's liberation is only can only be achieved by linking its struggles to those of the working class and overthrowing tht capitalist system. Women's Voice supports the organisationally independent, but based on the politics of the SWP!
two lines were controversial issue at conference, and also the most confused. Some women voted for them because they wanted an openly stated link with the SWP, and nothing more. Others, I think, SWP, composed only of SWP members and Women's Voice as now a section of the some non-aligned women close to the SWP.
non-aligned women resell did force the CHRISTMAS QUARTER 1979 Tigers, now with vou Tickets debate Ily 26 9% Anton Ciga Please send list A + List/s) E NI.
other left groups.
Women's participate in Women's liberation between newsletter to Women's Voice members, also decided to pay for our own organiser. The the „MOSU carry out our discussion Women's Voice is all about.
WHAT'S LEF SKATEND SULALAI Group meets regularly. Details from Gravesend Box 13, Gravesend group ha Merseyside Donations towaras cost or rent sends socialist allenge ox gratefully received 50, London N1 2XP.
DEMONSTRATION! 1 Prisoners, Brits Out Assemble -pir Street, cowley Road HULL UNIVERSITY Fi Society and Hull hrst time in Patroname Middleton Hall, Hull University Road, Hull. Fri 19 Oct at 7.45pm. 75 Socialist Books, or ring Angia lor the labour ratt Socialism?' Speakers: Victor and Cia tor Pugh (IMG Tues 23 Oct. 8pm. , in the Meeting Room, Thorpe Close (under Westway flyover)
BATH: SOCIALIST CHALLENGE on sale at 1Y65 Books condon kod, anu wal wudys spil 3om outside the Roman Baths. Phone 2029: kor more ceralis BOOKS for Southern Africa comrade money is desperarely needed for this vital fiel you can spare Books for Sor send Arica, 02, Socialist Challenge, PO Box 50, London enough around their situation, instead the debate was dominated by women aligned to Conference upheld the right of women to be members of other left organisations and still be The criteria membership are selling the magazine, helping to build a group, and agreement with the statement on the membership card.
It was necessary to lay down a specitic structure for the organisation, so that we can be more effective, and so that all members can fully discussion and political development of Women's Voice. The Steering Committee, elected at annual conference, is the political leadership and general co-ordinator during the year. The development of regional maroe siscussion and internal enable among were agreed. concentrate on ourselves financially strong enough to be able conference clarified perspectives for Women's Voice, but the real clarification will come from our development over the next year. It is crucial that, however busy they are within their own local groups [which we will be, thanks to the Tories!], all members get involved in the debates within the The political development of women and a growing confidence to make and decisions MALANEY socials challenge group meeung Speaker: Clive Turnbull Committee recently in Nicaragua) show. centre on Mare St, E8 organised by Scottish Homosexual Rights Group for men and women active in trade union work POW Glasgow Trades Union Centre, Sat 27 Oct; Edin detais and registration Creche 031-225 2424 ext 6298 (day), or Bob Deacon Cottingham CELYELANT ANG Southall trials. Main Speaker Tariq Ali. 7.30pm, PROTEST AGAINST Nuclear weapons: UN SC group Schonfield Party politica books LATIN AMERICA Centre at the Christopher Hatton Centre, Laystall Street, off Roseberry
By Martin Meteyard ROBERT Muldoon equivatent of Margaret Thatcher. Head of a right-wing Tory government determined to cut wages, boost unemployment, and smash the right to organise.
Bill Rowling is the Callaghan. A Labour opposition leader who thinks only in parliamentary terms; who in July denounced the disturbing trend towards use of the strike weapon as a negotiating tool', and inose talking showdown as 'irresponsible idiots'.
Well, on 20 September there were an âwful lot of 'irresponsible idiots' around as a 24-hour general strike brought the country to a virtual standstill.
The strike was called by the Federation of Labour after the government used its recently passed Remuneration agreement wrung out of the employers by the powerful Drivers' Federation.
as a pacesetter for other unions per cent. The government then stepped in to reduce it to 9.5 per cent, the amount of the employers' original offer before action forced them into further concessions.
The response trom immediate. Stopwork around the country. An immediate half-day stoppage was called at the New Zealand Motor Corporation assembly plant in Wellington. The Meat Workers Union By Günter Minnerup
Zealand's
equivalent of Jim an Act to veto — was [0r 1] other workers was meetings took place action' puiled out negotiations and threatened appropriate direct • ULELCOS intervention was removed.
As a delegate from the Carpenters & government Labourers Union put it at a 900-strong meeting called by Auckland Trades Council: 'Are we going to let the employers walk all over us? If all the workers in New Zealand stand up, I wonder how they'll fit us all in jail.' Such militancy some form street New Zealand Storemen and Drug morning we had up to working.
Strength massive industrial action.
strike when he told a rally:
"It's an action to fight the Tories?
left the Federation Labour leaders with little option bat to organis of national • action. Hence 24-hour strike call for 20 September.
The short notice could have limited in effectiveness, but in fact thousands of markers demonstrations against Muldoon government in all the main centres Bruce Fowler, an organiser for the Norther Storemen and Packers Union, explained hom i was done at a Socialist Forum organised by th Trotskyists the following 'One of the highlights was that the Drivers, and Chemical Workers Unions organised delegates' militias. Yesterday 250 delegates at on office and we sent these delegates out to sites in cars to make sure that none of the siles were Muldoon's Remuneration Act now faces 'the same fate as Public Service Association Derecognition Bill, which the governmeat was forced to withdraw in July under threat of Bill Anderson, president of the Auckland exercise in strength for us, exercise in fear for them... we will contin governna government, but also the policies it folloms What better example could there be of
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Award The drivers' award — which generally acts