LABOUR WOMEN in conference at Swansea over last weekend showed yet again the vital contribution they make to policy and debate in the party.
labour movement on a number of crucial issues both on policy for women and on questions of concern to all sections of the working class.
In the on employment, Elton, speaking for the POEU, moved a resoldcalling for: 'a firm commitment to legislating for positive action for The resolution wullicil. went on to suggest that the American experience should be used as a model.
The motion, seconded by AUEW-lADS. was passed overwhelmingly by conference. Only Militant supporters voted against, having argued lnial action divisive Barbara Switzer of TASS, replying the Militant's arguments said: •Women are not prepared to walt undi tne top coo monopolies are nationalised. Nor are we prepared to wait for the revolution.
We want action now!' Teresa Conway, Islington NorIn delegate, took up the theme saying: *egislation is not enough, but it provides a focus for women to struggle 5 on exe question or was the question black sections the Labour pm Vestminster Diane Abbot, TONI women's section, put the most clear v against those arguing was divisive: very hypocritical of people who On Saturday conference gave a lead to the whole have not been bothered all-white Cullference and all-white constituencies for years and years to start saying we're for separatism weve got de JacIO separatism already' adopted overwhelmingly, retendous despite a recommendation Irom te platorin Lilal be remitted for further consu lauon.
The voted against, this time in clear rightwing in the conference -pattern that 10S De repeated time again through the course of the weekend.
The debate on Ireland, brought forward to Satur«Her floor, was the enthusiastic of the day. A resolution calling for action against strip searches in Armagh carried.
Militant's resolution for the establishment of the British Labour Party in the North of Ireland was overwhelmingly rejected, showing agreed with Vera McChlone, Cardiff delegate, when she said: 'We want less British involvement in the North of Ireland, not more'.
Mandv Moore replied to the debate for the platthat the OOIl problems of Ireland could not be resolved by ting the British Party across the Irish Sea.
sunday s debale was dominated by the debate • Wonels orcallsallull. following a 250-strong fringe the Saturday O1l But before reaching this debate, CUllference confirmed its sup. DOIL •tOI gave wholehearted support to the miners' strike, overwhelmingly adopted resolution against Wile AUs calling for the reinstate.
of the six expelled Blackburn members.
Organisation the afternoon clearly passed, as were a SCIO or amendments to standing orders democratising many conference procedures.
again allied with the right in trying to defeat WAC on all counts. proach to women organisation Was for 'parity with the YS', in Eve w LOSU dynamic section of the Labour Partv'. But only Women give a lead to the labour movement their own 30-odd votes were registered in support of this demand On conference floor the absolute majority delegates were clear supporters and the WAC slate swept the board in the elections TOT next year's Conference Arrangements COLLeC The left ma. jority on the CAC this year contributed greatly to the democratic functioning of ensured that women got what they wanted on the agenda rather than other priorities being imposed.
The major weakness the conference lay in the debate on Europe Unfortunately no resolutions put to con ference called explicitly for British withdrawal the EEC, indicating a fur ther drift away from this policy across the entire spectrum of opinion in the But continuing doubts about une possibility of turning this situation around were revealed more than from the the protest NUPE delega tion that banners at conference did not mention focussed on the Euro elecLIONS Many successful fringe meetings were held, over women heard Chris McAuley, of the Sinn Fein women's department he Labour Committee or Ireland meeting and a hundred plus packed into a Moscow Women crowded NAC meeting All in all conference showed that, as at Newcas tle in 1982, the women's organsar remains s lat most radical most dynamic section of the Neil Kinnock will have a tough job on his hands if he remains determined in his opposition to women's demands in the Women are sure to be in the forefront of the fight to prevent him leading the party to the right.
By Carola Hansson and Karin Lider published by Allison & Busby, £3.9