How we are building for June 5th iobs march

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describes the experience in Hackney.

THE National Organising Conference for a Woman's Right to Work took place on February 20, and while it was a reasonabl / successful conference in th at it attracted many wome n interested in organising the June demonstration and rally, little has been started at local level.

Some of the sisters from the Hackney Women's Right to Work Campaign attended the conference and we were asked to explain how our local conference had been organised.

Many felt that it is difficult to know where to start when building a campaign so instead of writing an article concentrating on why there is a need for a woman's right to work conference it would experience.

Initial call

The initial call for a local campaign came from a Socialist Organiser supporter who began by contacting a few people. A small meeting was called where it was decided that the campaign should take the form of a conference as a way of publicising the June demonstration and rally. A leaflet was produced and sent to community groups, women's groups, Labour Party wards and trade unions, asking for their support and help. We then opened a bank account and organised a Post Office Box.

It is worth mentioning that when organising a new grouping, it is important to acknowledge the numerous women's groups and community schemes already in existence. These should be contacted very early on to see what they have been doing, with the aim of seeking advice and support.

Real It is very easy to quite inadvertently step on other groups' initiatives, making it difficult to gain any real link up in the area.

We received little response from our introductory leaflet, but found personal contact more successful. However, if a conference is to be successtul, and not preach to the already converted, it is crucial to involve the trade unions and community at largé.

Don't be put off by initial lack of interest. Go back until notice is taken.

Getting union support is not, however, the end of the problem. In Hackney, ior example, many women work in non-unionised factories, some are contract cleaners, home workers unprotected by employment laws, so the only way these women can be contacted is by going to the factories and talking to them.

Off the ground

Factory leafletting, street the bulk of women workers.

For the unemployed, dole leafletting, visiting youth clubs, etc., should be organised if possible.

The Hackney campaign was formed last November and is only just beginning to off the ground. Most of us alan t realise how slow the process of organising a conference would be, so plan well in advance.

Putting the organisational aspects to one side, most of the discussion centred around the actual content of the conference. We soon realised that calling a conference to primarily build for the June events was not sufficient. Something more than an informative or educative day is needed.

It was eventually agreed that the conference should be divided into two sections.

In the morning the general situation of women Hackney would be covered by speakers and workshops, including council employees; positive action; home workers; unemployed women; YOPs schemes; and child care facilities.

The afternoon would be devoted to local action and ways to take the campaign further. Action workshops on the following topics hope to do. this: redundancies;

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perhaps be more beneficial it I enlarge upon Hackney's

leafletting, a campaigning stall on the market, etc., are necessary activities to reach