Outlaw male shortlists. PARTI Democracy

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No 20 MAY 1982 Monthly paper not shar women s MOVEMENT FIGHTBACK HOM WOMENS HIGNTS W0x• Women's Fightback special on the NHS pay fight. 10p [5p for strikers] plus postage from Women's Fightback, 41 Ellington St, London N7. the latter two have received the greatest support from Women's Sections. The least controversial one would seem to be that the Women's Conference should have theright to table five resolutions to Annual Conference. The other two however are proving to be highly controversial.

In the case of the 'Women on shortlists' resolution, most of the opposition (though not all) comes from male comrades who resent potential competition for seats from women.

In the of both essential if the majority of women are not to continue to be excluded from participation in politics.

Misunderstood

Yet the aims and motives which underlie these proposals are frequently misunderstood and misrepresented. WAC is campaigning for legislative changes because the formal equality which »exists at present is totally unacceptable and inadequate. Furthermore, despite arguments to the contrary, attitudes tend to follow structural changes (as RA TO 1 Work women got where they are because they were prepared to accept the male domination which exists in the political, social and economic hierarchy. They represent no threat to the status quo. It is this that enabled them to reach positions of political power.

In relation to this point; it is no accident that several of the women in politics who are 'successful' tend to deny that they have been discriminated against. No wonder. Quite a few of them come from financially and educationally advantageous backgrounds with few obstacles to realising their ambitions. But this is far from the case for most women.

And this is what makes these successful' women the exceptions rather than the rule.

Oblivious

It is important to recognise this because some on the left appear oblivious to the fact that the movement towards positive discrimination (rapidly gaining momentum) within the Labour Party, does not, for the most part, come from such women. Most of those participating in the campaign see their demands as part of a wider programme for real left-wing democratic changes.

It is strated many wi saying rather Of course there will always be opportunists who will try to use the gains achieved to further their own careers. But this should not blind us to the fact that the credibility of the left will increasingly rest on its ability to provide a socialist alternative which ensures that women do not remain subservient.

Encouraging

It is encouraging that a number of men are beginning to realise this.

The demand for the election of the NEC's Women's Section by the Women's Conference highlights this point: if this system were in operation now, there would be little difficulty in finding women who are both left-wing and committed to positive discrimination for women. At present this is proving to be a problem. But this situation is symptomatic of the women's dissatisfaction with male conceptions of what is 'left-wing'.

Win further emon -by the fac • that men at p: resI nt are that the would support no one. rather than an 'antiwoman' woman. Instead of denouncing women who take this position as apolitical, men would do better to examine the reasons underlying this stance: namely that women cannot be properly represented when their own Women's Section is decided by the men who cast the Trade Union block votes.

To win the three demands will require that men on the left also support women in their fundamental right to be included in debate and decision-making at all levels of the Labour Party. Their own political future will, in the long term, be significantly influenced by whether or not the women are successful.

For particulars of CLPD WAC resolutions which you should press through your branches now for Annual Conference, contact Heather Gaebler, 10 Park Drive, (lower flat), London NW11. (Tel: 01-458 1984).

Details are also available regarding two WAC meetings at the National Conference of Labour Women to discuss tactics.

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also from 'Kingsland Models' up by saying that the - which is part of one and struggle at Rulecan was a the same company, though political struggle, not just Rattles claims it is separate. some women fighting for pin The Executive's excuse money but a group of trade for lifting the blacking was lunionists fighting for the that it might be unlawful right to be represented by under the Prior Bill. But the the union in a grossly strike has shown that the law exploited industry.

"I realise now", said all trade unionists, and we Sandra, "that the police are now face an even greater not an impartial force. threat in the new Tebbit Bill. Socialist Organiser no. 85 May 20 ACCORDING to the Financial Times last Saturday, it was Braniff Airways, the Big Orange' • that coined the phrase «When you've got it, flaunt it"

It commissioned Pucci b 'design its staff uniforms. and an artist to paint two of its aircraft.

But last week all it was flaunting was bankruptcy. It had lost money solidly since 1978, and despite screwing workforce to cut costs by 14% it still lost $40 million in the first quarter of this year.

Other US airlines could follow Braniff. Altogether RATTLES broke the union at Kingsland, said Rulecan shop steward Sandra O'Connor. "And he has tried the same with us. But we have fought back".

Sandra was speaking last Sunday, 16th, at a wellattended meeting called by Socialist Organiser supporters in solidarity with the NUTGW members on strike at Rulecan.

"The union has let us down badly" , said Sandra. "OK, so they made it official. But they refused to confront the government and its anti-union laws"

She was very critical of the area official, Tom Evans, who at one meeting said that the union was weak because of its 89% women membership. "In my view it is the leadership which is weak"

Sandra said she had very little trust in the offer made by Rulecan boss Rattles last week - that is, if pickets were lifted, he would open up new premises in Runcorn and re-employ the remaining 45 strikers on a £55 fall-back the women in the new premises. This was agreed by the general secretary but opposed by the strikers.

Sandra also told the meeting that the strikers had been to an industrial tribunal and the verdict would be given in two weeks. But the women are not waiting for the result, and are renewing their demand for the Executive Board to restore blacking.

Goods should be blacked not only from Rulecan but and the police are weapons of the bosses.

They've been provoking arguments picket line: They actually went to one woman's house, arrested her in front of her children, and charged her with assault on a scab!"

Women's Fightback supporter Sue Arnall spoke about the position of women in society, the attacks being made on us - and the women in the health service who are in the forefront of the fightback.

The chairperson summed The struggle against the Prior Bill is a question for All unions should raise THE result of the recent ballot of NALGO members on Labour Party affiliation was 7 to 1 against on a high 60% poll.

The defeat was, of course, to be expected, but the margin was disappointing for the many NALGO support for these women; all work from Rattles must be blacked, whether at C&A, Grattons, or Kayes.

There must be a drive within the union for accountability of all ufficials and Executive Board members. They are not freelances. We pay their wages.

If the leaders won't lead, we must throw them out and get people in who will.

The meeting agreed to produce a joint shop stewards/Women's Fightback leaflet to be distributed throughout the union and Labour Party branches.

Support the picket line at 7 am Monday and Tuesday Picow Farm Lane, Runcorn _ and send financial donations to NUTGW, Room 46, 62 Dale Street, Liverpool 1. WINNIE MURPHY activists and Labour Party members who worked hard at building a campaign in a difficult period.

There are two main reasons for the poor ballot result. Firstly, the lack of any real fight back by Labour councils has led to increasing cynicism among rank and file union activists, not surprising when you realise that two-thirds of NALGO's 750,000 membership work in local government.

If, in a union like NALGO with very little Labour tradition and a very high Tory vote amongst its membership, the affiliation campaign is to be successful, then it must be based on joint action between the union and Labour councils in defending jobs and services and where possible improving working conditions.

Secondly, very little national leadership was forthcoming from the two pro-affiliation The Campaign for NALGO Affiliation to the Labour Party [CNALP] was responsible for winning the right for the ballot to take place by pressing for a decision at 1981 National Conference, against the wishes of the NEC.

When the right to ballot was won, the reaction of Militant supporters who initiated CNALP, was such that one might have thought we had just voted for the revolution. It was disappointing to find that the CNALP campaign was low-key and really only pitched at regional leaderships, with their propaganda relying too much on the historic Labour Party and trade union links and not enough on the need for joint action to defend jobs and services now.

The second group, FLAG For Labour Ainliation Group| was made up of NEC members, the leading lights being Scottish District Communist Party members. This group's activity, to my knowledge, was confined to a few adverts in the national broadsheet, Public Service.

The way forward now must be to get away from sterile campaigning around ballots and be aimed at involving the rank and file of the union in joint action with local Labour Parties.

This could best be done by forming workplace Labour Party branches in every local authority, giving NALGO members and other local autbority trade unionists a voice on GMCs and Local Government Committees, and opening up opportunities for joint campaigning and action on jobs and services.

BILL HAMILTON Assistant Branch Secretary Newham NALGO

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FULL CLAIM!!

HELP USY HELP YOU 'EI WOMEN'S TRIGHT

ndustrial NALGO setback LSolidarity with Rulecan