Typists' fight drags

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E ANT that is different is the great range of militancy: women are often the least well-organised, the least committed or interested in their union; but when they do 'find themselves' and discover how to take action, they are bolder and stronger and more radical than men.

Radicalism

What can be gained from getting the confidence as women to act is not just getting women 'equally' involved just like the average trade unionist - but to release the dormant energy and radicalism so that women might take the lead, as the Lee Jeans women did last summer.

Invitation The conference is set up for March 27th, though we haven't got a venue yet. To make it a success, we need dozens of women working for it in every area and union: raising it in their branches, at work and at trades councils, talking to women in their Labour Parties and cuts campaigns about it, mailing out leaflets and letters of invitation to local union branches, writing articles about it for local left-wing papers; broad left union journals and women's newsletters, putting up posters and notices about it in bookshops and noticeboards at left-wing centres - in short, making sure that it's impossible for anyone not to know it's going on.

If you can help in any way, write in . now for leaflets and details •to Women's Fightback, 41 Ellington Street, London N7. (PI hone: 01-607 9051) on by Sue Erswell THE LIVERPOOL typists' dispute still drags on, with no hope of a favourable settlement in sight.

The offer of arbitration a few weeks ago looked certain to end it, with little or nothing gained for the typists themselves. However, Trevor Jones and the other Liberal councillors are either too arrogant or too stupid to take a gift horse without looking in its mouth.

Having seen the typists go from a position of strength to one of weakness by accepting arbitration, they have taken the opportunity to go on the offensive once again.

Expulsion The council are now demanding a guarantee from te union that none of those NALGO members who have scabbed throughout the strike will be victimised. NALGO have quite rightly said that they will give no such assurance, and deadlock reigns for the time being.

The reason the council want this assurance is quite clear. Any so-called victimisation would mean at most expulsion from the union, and although this means Ittle at present, a closed shop agreement Is soon to come into force, and scabs could lose their jobs.

Selective

One of the methods used by the Liberals to get people to scab on the strike was the promise to protect them against the union come what may.

At a mass meeting it was agreed to step up action once again, and restart selective strikes in support of the typists.

HIp, ¡UPPORT ST. MARY'S lis lase dasaldo Cronm New issue of Women's Fightback - 10p plus postage from 41 Ellington S London N7

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WOMEN'S FIGHTBACK