for TWO amendments have been introduced to the Trade Union Bill which is now passing through the Lords. The first means com6 July 1984 DIANE ABBOT is standing for the women's section of the Labour Party national executive at the October conference this year. She is standing as part of a slate put forward by the Labour Women's Action Committee (WAC), whose demands for constitutional change to give women more power in the Party have won majority support at the last two women's conferences.
Diane is the first black woman to stand for Labour's national executive. Socialist Action is supporting the whole WAC slate, and will join with WAC in campaigning for it. As a first step JUDE WOODWARD asked Diane about the issues involyed.
What made you decide to they think they can ignore stand for election to the WAC's slate, that NEC as part of the WAC they'll be able to stitch the GRANT slate? elections up with the trade The main 1 am delegations the maybe usual that won't be that easy this LICI select and Lulc The Campaign group haven't said where they Sao a une waloie silud tion as yet. It is a big problem for them They were black quite keen on Judith Hart.
But at the same time they claim to be committed to feminism and anti-racism, they should support WAC's slate.
Do you support WAC's upfront will demands? plenty of coverage.
I support all of WAC's demands. l've been a supporter of WAC for years. I try, the It should black women nos no power. united against the white, struggle male right to elect have power, including the the women members of the NEC This, together with the left policies. black section, is vitally important for black women in particular. black section the Party can give a sign to black people that it will acknowledge their presence in a positive way instead of the passive antoniance we've had in out- the cole the Partv. Black women are at the Already know bottom of the heap, a fact nave that VUI male, white the leadership often loses sight of. In the context of the recession black women are being forced to pay an incredibly high price. If you dominated. this take the of cam- health service you'll find it the cleaning, catering and laundry going. In other words, the lower pala winch very large proportion women trom morues.
aga the 'best'. It would mean staff employed domestics instead of the present total domestic hours per week would be reduced for over three 6170 to 3410.
the of their jobs. be through, il means a 44 pes ly, when the Health Authority cent cut earnings, perhaps more. on their fate. would be employed by a private cleaning company of the District cleaning many conditions of work would disappear. hospital's own There would be no long term guarantee that even NHS wage rates These women should of the fightback. the pre leadership of the Seul movement hundreds of thousands of black women existed. That is the importance the black section, to build up their confidence, make the issues more visible.
WAC the Morrell, the WAC know Joan Maynard JEREMY CORBYN MP would be paid never mind sick or holiday pay, maternity leave or any such conditions.
Photo: MICHAEL ANN MULLEN been able to ask them as yet. stand i discussed neermal, Before ly with many members o the black section steerin committee and they agreed to it. Hopefully at the next meeting they will formally support me.
How do you see the campaign going forward?
WAC is planning a major with the women Hicculs on the slate at the TUC ir September. I will be there as a delegate my through this we hope to build up support from the block votes.
Building up support in the unions is particularly important if WAC is to win its demands.
This dispute is similar the at Barking where employees of Crowthalls Cleaning Company who have tendered for the Hammersmith contract have had wages cut by : 44 per cent through reductions • workers at Hammersmith have expressed their solidarity with Barking They want to be put into the • There pickets mounted every da at Hammersmith Ducane Road, Натmersmith. All expressions of support and solidarity are welcome.
----- pull-quotes -----
•iva ins pr
ti n