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."
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.
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.
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