LAST SATURDAY night at Wapping was special. Iwo to three thousand women gathered in solidarity with the print workers and in celebration of International Women's Day.
I spoke to worker, who said this was the biggest support she'd seen yet on a Saturday night. Of course women have been on the picket line — it was a miner's wife who saved Pat when she was running from the police the night they charged into the crowd on horseback. She told Pat to stay put and keep her head down: lessons learned on the miners picket lines.
The march from Tower Hill to was magnificent. There were women with banners and placards from all over the country.
Barking teacners, local governeal workers, all the print banners, Parties and LPYSs. There very Pat, wife of a Sun machine shop was even a TGWU delegation of dockers Merseyside at the picket. The mood was cheerful, with chants against Murdoch side. As we approached the route was lined with men supporting the Haleil. cheering us on our way. solidarity women renewed given by the women in the mining ing their fight TOT WOTK The way women have continued to organise SHOWs understanding.
The Barking women, though sacked, continue to support otner struggles. Jill from Barking told me how she startedup an anti apartheid group her arca The platform at Wapping included Ann Lilburn from WAPC, who pledged return the support that SOGAT showed during the miners strike. Sue Carlisle, councillor from Tower Hamlets, condemned the action to win the £1700 flat rate increase for 1900 agreea in January Two tasks face the ullull. , Ihe tirst is to spell out a programme of strike action, including putting back on the agenda teachers refusing to vigilate examinations. The other is to wage a campaign designed construct a series of alliances which are vital to teachers.
Despite the betrayal of the National Association Schoolmasters/Union of Women Teachers, over