Women act on jobs

Scan page 15

ALL over the country in the ALL over the country in the week beginning October 18, week beginning October 18, women will be demonstrat- unman will ha damanctest_ ing, picketing and meeting to protest their opposition to the latest discriminatory moves by the government against jobless women. Women claimants will be joining together with employed women (especially those in the Job Centres and benefit offices) to highlight the effects of Sir Derek Raynor's. proposals. These will • discourage jobless women from claiming their rights, add to the harassment of claimants, reinforce the drive to re-establish the myth of "women's place is in the home" and cover up the real extent of women's unemployment.

October 18, the start of the Week of Action, called by the Women's Campaign for Jobs, coincides with the introduction of the "availability for work" questionnaires (UB671) and voluntary registration at Job Centres. Both these measures seriously discriminate against women. The UB671 form contains questions about claimants' childcare arrangements and implicitly assumes availability for work restricted to the ability to TALKS at the government arbitration service ACAS last week over the Heathfield dispute in Slough failed to yield any result, and the action continues.

The Asian workers at the factory, members of the GMWU, have been sacked in an attempt to break the union. Mass pickets take place on Thursdays [phone 567 8462 for details], and donations are also needed [to Heathfield Dispute Committee, c/o GMWU, 105 Greenford Ave, Hanwell, London W7]. take a full-time jo offered.

Welsh Women's researched the wr the pilot "availat ing" found that t fit office staff an claimants saw the on childcare a primarily at claimants. The therefore discrimin in intent and effe women will be di from claiming bene are theit right bec will feel unable tr sufficient evidence sought Or obtain care facilities bef have been offered a October 18 is day designated by service unions as action against the involved in both reports. Women's j paigners will be c the unions for joir meetings on that highlight the ide interest between women and those istering benefit.

They will also t up with local action the health service d point out the need the destruction health and welfare by this government link between the protect existing jobs and the rights out of work.

As Gerry Byrne Women's Campaign points out: ; Aid who orkings of vility testroth beneid women : question .S aimed women question lates both ect (many iscouraged fits which ause they o provide of having ed childore they ı job).

also the the civil a day of job losses Raynor jobs camontacting it action/ day to intity of jobless • adminse linking ns around lispute to I to fight of both : services fight to women's of those :, of the for Jobs, •"The unemployed, and esp • "The unemployed, and especially women within that ca eciallv women within that r category, have traditionally been seen as unorgan-. ised and unorganisable. We hope to show by this Week of Action, that the government can not get away with stripping away the few existing rights of jobless women. In demanding our right to be visible as part of the unemployed, we are striking a blow against the invisibility of women's work in the home and our marginalisation (and ghettoisation) at work.

Women's Campaign for Jobs can be contacted at 41, Ellington Street, London N7. Tel: 607 5268 or 789 7387. on

----- pull-quotes -----

Or from the Jobs