JOSIE EDWARDS is the Women's Action Committee press officer, and a delegate to London Region Labour Party conference from Chipping Barnet women's section. Last year London Region conference agreed that women should be directly represented on the regional executive. This has not been implemented. A spate of resolutions to this sear's meeting demand that it is. On the eve of the London Conference, the National Executive Committee has agreed that regional conferences can elect women directly their Socialist Action what this good news meant for Labour Party women.
The London and Scottish regional meetings of the Labour Party resolved last year to improve women's representation on their executives. bul unis nas nol been carried out. The constitutional changes were not put before the NEC Just when we thought ine NEC was tudging the issue, the prosal has DOCU regions can these changes into effect imFor this means eight women elected to the directly accountable to the terence.
major breakthrough. WAC has battled long and hard for WOMEN ATTENDING the National Abortion executives. Josie told these changes. We hope that regions aren't already pursuing this will now do so.
WAC's aim is to have the national women's section of the NEC directly ference. We believe such women's conconstitutional changes iust a means to an end will assist women party. Our aim is not to get lau elected to parliament, but we recognise that history has shown the current system doesn't represent the interests wollnei especially working women. In tne short leil WAC will continue to have constitutional aims at the forefront of its campaign. Women protesting at the exclusion of women's at 1983 Labour Party annual conference.
of the reasons WAC has been successful is that women are angry we re treated in the Labour ParCompare the Diacuice inside the party to the 1976 legislation by the thenLabour government.
The Equal OpporCommission • LUDLICS guidelines for • employers are full of pious recomfor monitoring the number of women levels the valious organisation remedial action to correct the imbalance. It the party were an employer. would be a lousy one Not nearly enough is done to encourage women to be party activists. Now, it's not much that women expected make the tea, but they are expected to do all the slog: knocking doors and stutting envelopes.
Ann Holmes, from the delegates Once upon a time we said that softly, softly catches the monkey. Now fed up nice. That's why the WA( campaign has been so suc cessful. Women are turn. ing. their trade unions and to the Labour Party to make their demands felt.
work done by campaigns like WAC is not very glamorous, but it is necessary. We organised in the face of women being wiped out year after yea at annual conference. It's not too good to walk down the isle to say your bit at there's a solid block people ritually voting against you. And, finally that's changing.
We're getting into the conference season again. WAC has no motel resolutions yet for annual conference, but they'll be based on the ones we produced previously. We're taking three models to women's conference: improvements for women's representation mentary shortlists; a call a special rules conference to draw up and apconstitution for all levels organisations in the party; our standing demand that five women's conterence to annual conference.
We're going to London Regional conference on a cheery note this year. We'll be fighting just as hard for a fair deal for women in the Labour ParRepresentatives WAC will be speaking at lunch-time fringe meetings at London Regional conference. Sat 3 March: Jane Stockton meeting t Briefing meets. Sun March: Frances Morrell, at the Tribune meeting.
National
Briefing is planning hold a day on Womer Feminism on September around the suggested themes 'How should the Labour Party fight for • wonel s liberation?' and 'Making LILt accessible to women'.
BELIEVE ME, KATE
AREAS WHERE LACK OF THIS Cathy's Clown produced by Trojan Posters Other Bookshop, 328 Upper Street, London NI. Sack needed IN A RADIO 4 discussion programme which went out live, a lonely hearts dating agency for disabled tioned.
Kenneth Robinson, the presenter of the show and well-known broadcaster, responded with here will also be a debate between women from Briefing and from the Labour Coordinating Committee 'What strategy for women?' For further information contact Jane Stockton, Agar Grove, London NW1. and available from The the incredible remark:
can hear the banging together all night in some parts of the country.
Robinson has been told off by his BBC bosses. He should be sacked.
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Victory for women
Labour women and feminism
MALE ORDER
AS A FEMINIST MYSELF, I'N ONLY TRYING TO POINT OUT THEORY PERHAPS PREVENTS YOU FROM PERCEIVING THE TRUE NATURE OF YOUR OPPRESSION.