WHICH WAY FOR 8pm Tuesday 22 July Haverstock Hill (Belsize tube) Cheques should be with the that the Women's Action Committee (WAC) to establish an electoral college at women's conference to elect the IN the last four or five years at Labour conference we have seen successive gains by women on whole range of issues, but more specifically the constitutional demands of Action Committee (WAC) This year saw attempt to roll them back.
Those attempting to do so described themselves as "trade union women', like Sarah Benton Statesman who described conterence as a split between trade unions and the left.
Gains That was a wholly false dichotomy. What happened on the Isle of Bute was tew wing women attempted to use cover the Lace unions against gains made by the left.
On the specific issue of the NUPE resolution, one nas to accept unal ll was a genuine attempt at some kind of compromise. Year after year unites the constitutional demands Stalemate of WAC, and year after annual Dally conference we lose. It was beginning to look like a stalemate and NUPE was attempting conciliation. In retrospect, it would have been better to put down an amendment which would have made their resolution acceptabic lo us WAC is anxious that there shouldn't be any kind of genuine spit between women in the unions and women in WAC. We accept point of involving the unions the decisions of Originally we were in favour of a rules revision which would have looked at the unions' role. Now we would like to discuss the organisation of an electoral college which would give more say to the unions than they presently have at conference, on the basis of their female membership.
WAC College proposing 50-50 between unions socialist societies on the one hand and Labour Party women's councils and sections on the other. That seems reasonable to me, but think it should be open to negotiation problem is who controls the votes cast b the trade unions. WAC supporters In une umons are going to have to work tor by women members that moment. Elected Take the issue of who is elected onto the Labour rary NEC Under the present system, basically the trade acclac who will be on the women's section of the NEC.
The issue of whether the women elected actually supported by women is missed. union men sit around in hotels on Sunday and do little deals. That's why you Boothroyd elected. wonder Betty seriously alc talking about advancing the interests of Len women mon red. bers must have some say in how their unions cast thei votes. But that requires activists working wollen within the structures. No one from outside can tell a trade union what to do.
believe our interest in trying to find an issues raised by the NUPE resolution will bring women in WAC and wo1IC1 in the unions closi together, and will have a blow-on effect in the trade unions. That process will generate more involvement in the trade unions women. began having a women's four or five can don are ve small, but last women attended.
This ha had galvanising effect on the A lot of women, including myself, began by getting in women's conference. From there we got more involved in the union as a whole Positive This has had a very positive effect on a whole range of policies within the Now the ACTT executive is half women, TOT example caven the hardened misogynists ACTT accept that women have given a radical cutting edge to the union.
ANGER WAS rising in the Labour party last week Socialist Action 27 June 1986
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five women's places of the NEC is a major initiative. Socialist Action asked DIANE ABBOTT, member of the executive of WAC, for her view on the issue.