[By Irene IN July 1982 nearly a million…]

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By Irene IN July 1982 nearly a million women registered as unemployed in the UK: 943,000 to be precise. These women figure in the official statistics - the monthly returns published by the Department of (Un)Employment which are reported in the press.

But because of the way unemployment is counted in this country, another half a million women who are looking for work are not covered in the figures. These women are 'hidden' by official counts because these measure only people who are registered at the Employment Office or Job Centre and not those who don't have any reason to register even though they want paid work. Married women don't always qualify for unemployment benefit and so many don't register.

However when household surieys like the Census, the EEC Labour Force Survey • LFSI o: she General House=dE Sure (GHS) are done.

*cove: che hidden =re The latest IFS =25 =00e 2: c1e same lime 35 census and loung )',. THE in struggle UNAL TH •UF" KAMAL TNION • SAFES "avallability for works new ON October 18, the questionnaires (UB671) and voluntary registration will be introduced all over the country. The civil service unions are calling a day of action (with lunch-time meetings and ithe possible closure of Job Centres) in protest against the job losses involved in the implementation of the Rayner Report.

The Women's Campaign for Jobs is calling a Week of Action against these attacks on women claimants, for the week beginning October 18.

These are some ideas for things to do during the week.

1. Contact your local CPSA branch in Job Centres and Benefit Offices. Ask what action is planned for October 18. Suggest you help on picket lines, offer a speaker to their meeting to outline the effects of Rayner women claimants, propose a joint meeting on other joint action that seems appropriate.

2. Leaflet/picket benefit offices explaining the Week of Action and what the Rayner proposals involve. Call a press conference.

3. Contact local unemployed centres/groups. Find out if they have a women's group. If they do, suggest a joint meeting/leaflet for the Week of Action, and plans work (e.g. a Stand up and be Counted campaign). If they don't have a women's group/committee, suggest they hold a meeting and invite you to talk to women users/group members on problems of • women and unemployment and the possibility of forming a women's group.

4. Contact trade union branches, Labour Parties and Labour Party women's sections, trades councils, etc., who have shown an interest in the past or might be sympathetic. Suggest you address one of their meetings or plan future joint meetings on the Women's Campaign for Jobs and the Rayner report.

5. Contact unemployed/ unwaged women. As well as Job Centres and benefitoffices (which only cover those who are registered and able to 'claim), try leafleting/ street meetings/a stall/street theatre at shopping centres. Some groups have got a good response from questionnaires asking women if they are looking for jobs though not registered, what their childcare problems are etc.

6. Use the. Week of Action to launch a Stand up and be Counted campaign.

7. During the Week of Action bombard. local press and radio with press releases, letters, information on what actions are being taken. Most local papers and radio stations are willing to feature anythıng a bit local and "newsy" , but be careful not to let them trivialise it. See if you can get an interview or a phone-in programme on local radio, at least, use any phone-in they do have to put the message across. The enciosed press release can be used as a model, adapted to local conditions.

8. Labour cou (especially where they i women's committees) c be asked to organise monitoring of women's unemployment and oper free services for unemplo women. Ask for space their free sheets.

9. In many areas, week of action may coin with one of the local day action in support of health service workers. any local demos, pickets with a leaflet drawing the links:

*It's the same react ary government which is ing to dismantle both he and welfare services.

*The government will trying to make the he workers pay in job losses any wage increases.

*Women work in 1 paid ghettoes (like hosp domestics) partly beca they're denied finan independence in the bene system.

*Women's work at ho is invisible and unpaid, o work is low paid and I status.

10. Whatever you during the week (and yoi bound to think of lots m imaginative things than can), send in reports pictures to the campaign we can organise natic publicity. and tell ot women what's going through the newsletter. A affiliate to the campaign we won't be able io keep contact.

Useful contacts:

Civil Service Department Employment, regional tr: union Convenors:

Nottingham and East M lands: Dave Vickers 06 49381 (W); 0602-242450: Yorks and Humberside: Leedham, 0482-27065 ( 0482-842014 (h).

Manchester and NW. Fra Sullivan, 061-848 9000. Bristol and South West: N Stone, 0272-656121. West Midlands: Marga Keaney.. 0203-28693; Ke Brown, 021-773 2321. North East: Sheila • Sco Anderson 0642-24819 Tony Taylor (Benefits) 07 863561.

Brighton and SE: J Farrell, 01-987 4101.

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Socialist Organiser no.104 October 14, 1982 Page 7