Unionisation to combat abuse?

Louise Nousratpour
Sunday March 15, 2009
The Morning Star

THE liveliest debate by far at this year's TUC women's conference was on prostitution.

Should the sex industry be decriminalised and "sex workers" unionised like staff in any other sector or should we recognise that prostitution constitutes violence against women and act accordingly?

The debate in Scarborough on Thursday polarised delegates, with a number of unions abstaining from voting on the two opposing motions on how best to reform prostitution laws.

In the end, those who argued that decriminalisation would legitimise the abuse that is inherent in prostitution and turn pimps into "a newly respectable class of sex businessmen" won the day.

Moving the motion against decriminalisation, University and College Union delegate Mary Davis made clear that "this is not a moral issue, but a women's rights issue."

She argued that to label prostitution as "work" would legitimise "the commodification of sex and the objectification of women's bodies. Decriminalisation would condone violence and abuse without addressing the underlying problems of poverty and organised crime.

"We must expose the social causes of prostitution and fight for higher wages and improved benefits to ensure no-one is desperate enough to turn to the sex industry."

The motion, titled the commodification of sex, called for Britain to adopt the approach pioneered by Sweden, which criminalises men who buy sex and decriminalises prostitutes and offers them social support to leave the industry.

Official figures show that prostitution numbers have dropped from 2,500 before the 1999 legislation to around 1,000 today.

Also, the number of people trafficked in Sweden is now between 400 to 600 a year, compared to 4,000 in neighbouring Denmark and Norway.

In Britain, some 85 per cent of an estimated 80,000 prostitutes are thought to be victims of trafficking.

But CWU delegate Tricia Clarke, who moved the motion on decriminalisation, rejected the Swedish model on the basis that it would drive prostitution underground and put women's safety at risk.

She urged conference to support the GMB union's campaign to unionise the sex industry as the best way to protect women.

"In a socialist society, where poverty and inequality are eliminated, women will not look to prostitution. But in the meantime, we must fight for sex workers' trade union rights and ensure that they can report sexual violence without fear of imprisonment or a criminal record," she added.

However, Unite delegate Tricia Lawton questioned the argument that unionisation would protect prostitutes from violence and abuse.

"How can unions protect women prostitutes from sexual abuse when it is part and parcel of their work?" she asked, adding: "Prostitutes need human rights, not union rights."

She also refuted the notion that decriminalisation was about respecting a woman's right to "choose" and would empower prostitutes.

"The industry is run by men for men and the pimps who make huge profits from this exploitation are the only ones truly in control," she said.

Activist highlights Gaza's devastation

Louise Nousratpour
Friday March 13, 2009
The Morning Star

GAZAN human rights activist Mona El-Farra gave a heartbreaking account of the plight of her compatriots at a TUC women's conference meeting on Friday.

She reduced the audience to tears and even loud whimpering as she related stories about how she had witnessed mothers looking on in despair as their wounded child bled to death in their arms because the ambulance never arrived.

"I am a doctor and know that the Israeli military deliberately targets ambulances and hospitals, while checkpoints stop medical aid getting to those who need it," she said.

The recent Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip resulted in the death of 1,440 people, including 430 children, with thousands more wounded, orphaned, homeless and psychologically damaged.

Ms El-Farra said that figures obtained before the attacks showed that 65 per cent of Gazan children are suffering from post-traumatic disorder.

"Unemployment is 60 per cent and 38 per cent of Palestinian women of childbearing age suffer from malnutrition disorders," she highlighted.

"This is not about Israel's security. This amounts to a war crime."

Ms El-Farra welcomed the Viva Palestina convoy to Gaza as a "great initiative," but stressed that political solidarity was the most important tool of empowering Palestinians to fight for independence.

"Palestinians, especially women and children, may be victims but they refuse to be victimised," she proudly declared.

"Women in particular are organising in the community and fight the occupation while still managing to keep a smile on their face. Those I talk to say they want peace but not without justice."

Lawyer and co-ordinator for International Solidarity with Thompsons Solicitors Karen Mitchell pointed to a raft of international laws that have repeatedly been breached by Israel.

She concluded: "Israel is guilty of war crimes and must be brought to justice."

Iraqi women's plight is far from over

Louise Nousratpour
Friday March 13, 2009
The Morning Star

IRAQI Women's League guest speaker Shatha Besarani rejected the occupation forces' claim that her country was on the road to democracy.

Ms Besarani told the TUC women's conference in Scarborough on Friday that the Iraq puppet regime was engaged in a "hostile" war against the trade union movement, vandalising its premises, freezing its bank accounts and physically assaulting union leaders.

Arguing that "no true democracy can exist without a free labour movement," she reported that the Iraqi Teachers Union - a well-organised union which has secured significant pay increases in recent years through strike action - had been forced to hand over the keys to its headquarters along with membership and other records.

"This brutal pattern, however, was established by Paul Bremer - the US overlord responsible for setting up the Occupation Authority in 2003," she declared.

"He threw out most of Saddam's legal codes but kept the 1987 law that makes it illegal for public-sector workers to organise in a union."

Ms Besarani said that the situation for women was no better.

She pointed to a recent report by humanitarian charity Oxfam, which warned that the situation has worsened for women since the 2003 US-led invasion.

Last month, Iraq's minister for women resigned in protest at the lack of resources and accused the government of not making women's needs a priority.

"All Iraqis have suffered, but women face the additional danger of being sidelined in a male-dominated society - only 17 per cent of the workforce are women, compared to 83 per cent men," she noted.

"Iraqi women are trapped in a downward spiral of poverty, desperation and gender-specific violence. Oxfam described their plight as a 'silent emergency'."

Despite the ongoing war and occupation, which has ravaged the country, killed over one million and made millions more refugees, Ms Besarani was optimistic about the future.

"The results of the last election in January indicated a rejection of religious sectarianism in favour of national unity," she told delegates.

Ms Besarani stressed the importance of international solidarity to help Iraqi women and trade unionists in their struggle for "free trade unions and an independent Iraq."

She urged delegates to continue to give political and practical support to Iraqi people, including writing letters of protest to the Maliki government and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to highlight the issues.

Barber praises success of union campaigning

Louise Nousratpour
Friday March 13, 2009
The Morning Star

TUC general secretary Brendan Barber blamed "a few male bankers" for the current economic crisis on Friday, urging the government not to make ordinary women pay for their "recklessness" by shelving equality rights.

Addressing the final day of TUC women's conference in Scarborough, Mr Barber praised women trade unionists for their hard-won victories over the past year.

"The Single Equality Bill, while not perfect, is a great step forward and the creation of a network of equality reps and the safeguarding of Britain's abortion rights are all achievements you should be proud of," he insisted.

"But so much remains to be done as the global crisis intensifies and the recession threatens to become depression.

Mr Barber told the government not to give into the business lobby in delaying stronger maternity and equality rights contained in the Equality Bill.

He argued for a "new deal" for women, saying: "If we can find £1.3 trillion to bail out the banks, surely we can spend a fraction of that on providing world-class childcare for all and introduce mandatory pay audits to stamp out pay inequalities."

"The terrible inequalities that have been allowed to flourish in Britain have meant that women will be hit the hardest by the recession. It is not right that eight in 10 of the lowest-paid jobs are occupied by women, while nine in 10 highest-paid positions are occupied by men.

"And it's not right that three-quarters of part-timers are women, where the pay gap is a colossal 63 per cent."

Mr Barber stressed the importance of mobilising the movement to pressure the G20 leaders to put working people first when they gather in London next month to discuss the global crisis.

And he reported that the TUC has signed a memorandum of understanding with human rights group Amnesty to "launch a more effective and co-ordinated campaign in our pursuit for labour and human rights.

"So my message is this - don't forget what together we can achieve and don't forget that union campaigning has saved countless women from slavery, forced labour and prostitution around the world.

"We have made a difference and we will keep on making a difference."

Delegates demand more family-friendly laws

Louise Nousratpour
Thursday March 12, 2009
The Morning Star

WOMEN trade unionists called on Thursday for the strengthening of family-friendly laws as the most effective way of ending gender inequality in the workplace.

Delegates at the TUC women's conference in Scarborough highlighted the "shameful" discrimination meted out to single mothers and pregnant women on maternity leave and urged the government to act to protect women in the workplace.

"Even before the recession, reports showed that 30,000 women a year were losing their job because they were pregnant or on maternity leave," ATL delegate Julia Neal said, adding: "With the right support, these women would not have lost their jobs."

She warned that the recession would make the situation worse as employers look for excuses to sack people.

Through the unpopular Welfare Reform Bill, the government wants to force single mothers and other vulnerable people in society back to work by threatening to cut their benefits.

Delegates argued that ministers should instead strengthen family-friendly rights to ensure that those who are already in work do not lose their jobs due to lack of access to flexible working.

Community delegate Siobhon Ahmed attacked Business Secretary Peter Mandelson's plans to tear into the Single Equality Bill, due before Parliament this spring.

As well as attempts to halt proposals to extend maternity leave, Mr Mandelson has announced that plans to extend flexible working rights to parents of all children under 16 have been put on hold due to the economic crisis.

"He seems to be more worried about protecting those who caused the crisis," she stormed.

"Now is the time to help working people and unions do more to put family-friendly policies at the heart of the bargaining agenda."

Cuban women 'not worried about the recession'

Louise Nousratpour
Thursday March 12, 2009
The Morning Star

CUBAN activist Carolina Amador Perez told a Morning Star meeting in Scarborough that Cuban women were not worried about losing their rights in the recession because the socialist government puts human beings first.

While governments in countries such as Britain are threatening to curtail equality rights and do little to protect jobs, women in Cuba are enjoying a high level of political and economic participation and their rights are enshrined in the country's constitution.

The last general election saw women take 43 per cent of the National Assembly seats, compared to just 18 per cent in the British Parliament, delegates heard.

Cuban women also play a vital role in the country's economic sphere as they dominate some of the most important sectors in Cuba such as education, biotechnology and tourism, Ms Perez noted.

She was speaking on behalf of the Federation of Cuban Women, which represents 85 per cent of Cuba's female population over the age of 14.

"Even after the collapse of the socialist bloc, which resulted in the worst crisis in our country, women did not lose their rights because we put human beings first," she stressed.

TUC women's committee member Mary Davis said that the achievements of Cuban women should be "an inspiration to all of us and we must learn from their success."

She added: "In the long term, I would like to see Britain follow the example of Cuba and overthrow the capitalist system, but in the short term we need to unite around a programme to challenge the recession and create a fairer society."

The meeting was supported by Unite and the Cuba Solidarity Campaign.

Meet millennium goals, urge women

Louise Nousratpour
Thursday March 12, 2009
The Morning Star

TUC WOMEN'S conference expressed solidarity with sisters around the world on Thursday.

And it urged global leaders to use this year's G20 summit in London to meet the Millennium Development Goals of ending poverty and inequality.

In a series of motions on the global recession, speakers challenged the assumption that the consequences of the crisis are gender neutral, when history shows that the most vulnerable groups are women, children and elder citizens.

They highlighted how women internationally still make up the majority of the poor, especially in the developing world where they also face high levels of maternal death and are forced to send their children to work.

Unite delegate Monika Taylor welcomed a recent study by the International TUC highlighting the gender aspect of the crisis.

"We need a support system for women and the most vulnerable in society to stop the downward spiral impact that the recession is having on them globally," she urged.

Conference was urged to join the demonstration in London on March 28 - before the April 2 G20 summit on the global financial crisis - to press world leaders to implement strategies that will help the downtrodden.

TSSA delegate Pauline McArdle called for a "properly financed action plan to meet the fifth millennium goal to cut global maternal deaths by 75 per cent."

More than 530,000 women die in pregnancy and childbirth each year because of a lack of medical care and sanitations, conference heard.

Prospect delegate Catherine Donaldson highlighted the horrific plight of Mayan child labour in Guatemala and urged the TUC to forge links with unions in that country.

"Four out of five Guatemalans live in poverty and three out of five in extreme poverty. Over 28 per cent of children between the ages of seven and 14 are compelled to work, an increase of over 300,000 in five years," she noted.

Supporting the motion, FDA delegate Sarah Guerra highlighted the millennium pledge of achieving universal primary education and ending child labour.

Another motion highlighted women's situation in Iraq and the violence they experience specifically because of their gender.

"There has been a 70 per cent increase in religious murders during the past year, with 47 recorded so-called honour killings," UCU delegate Veronica Killen told conference.

She urged the TUC to continue to support the Iraqi Women's League's campaign to end this "spiralling violence."

'We will be the biggest losers'

Louise Nousratpour
Thursday March 12, 2009
The Morning Star

BRITAIN is heading for a depression arguably worse than that experienced in the 1930s and working-class women are its biggest losers, speakers at a TUC women' conference meeting warned on Wednesday.

Charter for Women secretary Sharon Allen told the fringe meeting in Scarborough that there has never been a more pressing time for women to mobilise around demands for their rights as business-friendly ministers and bosses look to tear into equality laws to maximise profits.

The charter, launched in March 2003, sets out a list of demands including closing the gender pay gap, providing affordable childcare provisions, fighting racism and resisting the so-called feminisation of poverty.

"Support for the charter is going from strength to strength, with new unions and organisations affiliating to the campaign," Ms Allen beamed, urging delegates to make sure their unions are involved.

A recent TUC study found that women are losing full-time jobs at twice the rate of men, with employers using the recession to target single mothers, pregnant women and the disabled for redundancies.

Women are disproportionately suffering from the crisis because of the gender pay gap and because their unpaid caring responsibilities leave them stuck in low-paid and part-time jobs, where the pay gap is a staggering 40 per cent.

Ms Allen warned of a rise in violence against women as the recession bites and attacked the government for "clawing back funding from women's refuge centres and rendering them incapable of providing the support victims need."

TUC women's committee member Mary Davis warned that Britain was in a depression that could potentially be worse than that of the 1930s.

"Between 1929 and 1931, there was some restructuring of British industry as it moved into light industry which employed many women. But I don't think that opportunity exists now, as the manufacturing base has been destroyed," she argued.

"This is not a banking crisis alone, but a crisis of no industry. It is about an unfettered global market that zooms across the world and goes where rates of exploitation are at the highest.

"The financial deregulation, which began with the Tories and continued under new Labour, coincided with the destruction of our public sector as huge sways of services were privatised."

Ms Davis dismissed as "nonsense" the analysis offered by mainstream economic experts who use bourgeois terms to explain the capitalist crisis, arguing that to understand the nature of the crisis we must revisit Karl Marx's Das Kapital.

As the floor opened for discussion, delegates welcomed Ms Davis's Marxist analysis and made suggestions to improve the charter.

CWU delegate Tricia Clarke expressed disappointment at conference decision on Wednesday to reject a bold motion calling for support for the People's Charter that included demands for the nationalisation of the banking system and companies that threaten huge job cuts.

The motion fell on grounds that its demands were "unrealistic" and "too aspirational."

Ms Clarke said that the charter must emphasis the fight against privatisation.

NUJ delegate Lena Calvert said that the charter should also advocate international solidarity, especially with women in the developing world where the effects of the global crisis are more extreme.

"As more people fall into extreme poverty, reactionary traditions and religious fundamentalism will take roots, with devastating implication for women's rights," she warned.

Women vow to fight gender pay inequality

Louise Nousratpour
Wednesday March 11, 2009
The Morning Star

WOMEN trade unionists attacked the government's continued failure to stamp out widening gender pay inequality on Wednesday, pressing the case for mandatory pay audits and collective representation.

Delegates at the 79th TUC women's conference in Scarborough dismissed the voluntary approach to equal pay audits in the private sector and parts of the public sector as "useless," pointing out that the gender pay gap had widened in the last year.

They were particularly scathing about the exemption of private firms that bid for public-sector contracts, especially when the public procurement is worth £160 billion a year.

"Where public money is being spent, it is right and proper that the companies benefiting from that money are, at the very least, required to meet the same high standards in equality as the public sector," UNISON delegate Sue Highton said, adding that the exemption of public-sector organisations such as Post Office Ltd and Royal Mail were "even more bizarre" and demanded that mandatory equal pay audits be extended to all sectors.

PCS delegate Pat Campbell said that, as they stand, the equal pay laws "just aren't working. We have the fourth largest gender pay gap in the EU. And in the civil service, the gap is above the UK average - up to 28 per cent in some areas."

She called for the right for unions to bring representative action, noting that employment tribunals are grinding to a halt as tens of thousands of individual women are fighting for equal pay through the courts.

There are 46,000 equal pay cases pending in Scotland and 130,000 in England, with each case taking anything between eight and 12 years to complete, conference heard.

"We want mandatory audits and equality laws that work. We don't want to spend our lives in court to negotiate equal pay," she added.

Delegates attacked Business Secretary Peter Mandelson's attempt to scrap measures in the Bill, including enhanced maternity leave and measures to ensure that government contracts were awarded to companies with good records, to protect bosses' interest in the current economic climate.

Diana Holland of Unite stressed that the Single Equality Bill should be strengthened, not watered down.

She said: "We need to be strong and fight against" the minister's attempt to gut the Bill.