Green Light to Step up Harassment of Women

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WOMEN are facing massive attacks on their rights by the Tories.

More than twice as many women as men are being made redundant. Nursery facilities are being closed.

LONDON Workers' Socialist League classes on basic Marxism. Next one: Marxism and domestic labour. Friday May 14, 7.30pm. For details of venue, write to PO Box 135, London N1 ODD. EL SALVADOR: public rally in solidarity with FMLN and FDR. Saturday May 15, 7pm, Conway Hall Red Lion Square, London. Organised by El Salvador Solidarity Campaign.

WOMEN'S FIGHTBACK: call-back meeting from the March 27 trade union conference. Saturday May 15. 2pm, County Hall, London SEI.

SOCIALIST ORGANISER MEETINGS & FORUMS ISLINGTON. Every other Friday. 7.30 at Caxton House, St John's Way, London N19. Next meeting May 14.

SHEFFIELD. Every other Wednesday, at the Brown Cow, The Wicker. Business 7.30, discussion 8.30. Next meeting May 12.

OXFORD. Thursday May 13, 8pm at 44h Priners St (next to Fast Oxford Community Centre) The National Health Service is being decimated, and women face years of waiting for hospital treatment.

There is no right to claim supplementary benefit for any woman who is married LEICESTER. Sundays, 7.30 at the Socialist Centre, High Street.

May 9: The fight against the Tebbit Bill. Speakers: Brian Prangle, secretary Leicester Trades Council; Alan Thornett, deputy TGWU senior steward, BL Cowley; Chris. Goodwin, Women's Fightback.

KILL THE TEBBIT BILL. Mass rally organised by Yorks & Humberside Regional TUC. Sunday May 16, 10am to noon, Sheffield City Hall.

SHEFFIELD/ROTHERHAN Mobilising Committee for the Defence of Trade Union Rights: meting Thursday May 13, 7.30, White Swan, Rotherham.

SOLIDARITY with Chile, Central America, and the Caribbean. National conference, Saturday-Sunday May 22-23, starts 11am, Sheffiek University. Sponsors includt Sheffield & Rotherham Trades Councils. More details: Cath, 0742 588052.

SUPPORT the Palestinian people: rally, Saturday May 15, 12.30, from Speakers" Corner, Hyde Park, London. Organised by Palestine Solidarity Liaison Cttee. or living with a man. And there are cases now coming to light where women who can't work full time because of young children or handicapped children are having their dole stopped.

it is believed that 20 unemployment offices round the country are testing the reaction of women who have been made redundant and who have previously worked part time to a questionnaire.

"UB (unemployment benefit) and SA (supplementary benefit) for the unemployed is intended for people who could and would work if work were available, It is not supposed to be paid to someone who cannot work because of other commitments, or someone who does not intend to work, or someone who so restricts the work he (sic) is prepared to do in terms of hours, occupation, pay etc., that as a result he has little chance of finding a job."

Basing itself on this principle, the official Rayner report proposes to exclude many women from benefit by way of an 'availability test'.

'It was put to the (Rayner) team frequently in local offices that many married women who were not available for work were nonetheless drawing benefit (UB).

"It was claimed that many had small children and did not wish to work, but had realised that claiming They have to fill this in when they sign on saying the number of hours they can work and who takes care of the children while they are at work and during the holidays.

If the answers to these questions don't satisfy the Department of Employment, then their dole is suspended.

It is unciear how many women are facing this attack on their rights. But it is clear that unless proper information is got about this new questionnaire and a campaign launched, when it becomes legally enforced in November hundreds of thousands of women will find their right to unemployment benefit stopped. They will be disqualified because full-time work is put out of their reach by family commitments - and at one fell swoop the Tories will have reduced their unemployment figure.