THE DEBATE around women's conference last week — which proposed the introduction of a trade union bloc vote based on female membership, but without any mechanism for women's control over this vote overdue discussion on the next steps in building Labour's Women's Organisation. What was at stake in this debate was not some formalities about the constitution of the women's section, but how to take women in the labour movement as a whole forward. NUPE's resolution to - opened up a long Over the last two decades the massive entry women into the workforce has dramatically changed the sexual comFor many or the major trade unions, with a significant number unions now having a more thar per cent female membership. 1 Ke NUPE NALGO, USDAW, COHSE, the NUT CPSA all have a female membership Talleilla between 52 and 80 per cent.
This substantially increased presence of women in the trade unions has fuelled the moves towards the self-organisation and women across the mOve ment. The development of the Labour Women's Action Committee (LWAC), although it grew out of the movement for increased LIC Labour Party, was in fact propelled by these social changes affecting the posiIn the labour movement.
WAC The campaign of the Committee has equivalents the trade unions themselves, although in a less centrallsed less organised TOTTA. vcar women at the TUC Women's Conference have argued for that conference have more say in the TUC as whole. number of unions have established adcommitees. women's conferences and training programmes direct response to the increasing pressure the base of those unions. Pressure The pressure women in these unions nas; also found a reflection in.
of women in their national ex- although none: of the unions, except the National Union of Tailor and Garment Workers, yet has a maioritv of on its executive. In 1985 NUPE and the CPSA dic next best with 42 per cent and 41 per cent respectively. A number of unions, including NUPE, NATHE GMBATU have adopted or are proposing reserveu olace. for women their executive.
When it comes to the number women full time national officers the again Goes best. with 21 • which in itself is disgraceful for a its women. Unions USDAW NUT are with of their nearly unions the ol unest unions at increasingly using the women in to WAPC the male dominated leaderships.
OI the demands women in those unions.
tivity like Women really national mass organisation women across the NUPE's resolution aimed at contronting.
Hostile Powerful objective forces, rooted the changed social position of women, are propelling forward convergence of women Organising movement Such steps are throughout tremendously progressive for the worleil. working class as a whole. However each step in this direction is beset by contradictions and problems, which forces hostile to the increased organisation and power of women are only too keen to exploit.
Male In particular the different of cacticince women's self-organisation within the exploited create diviThe resolu particular delegations, dinating Committee lo cast a has everything do Will bringing under the proposal increase the weren strengthen ase be dreamt ovine individual they throughout movement.
Labour Women's Action Committee pamphlet, price fl, plus 18p p&p, from R E
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