At last! Women's rights win a hearing!

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reports on the : CPSA Broad Left conference.

CPSA National Broad Left's Conference of 1983 began with a long overdue acknowledgement of the importance of women's rights in a union which is almost three quarters women. Alas, the placing of the hourlong debate first on the agenda did not alter the cavalier attiVoice of Solidarnosc is published fortnightly by NSZZ Solidarnosc. Subscription rates are £8 for six months [UK] and £10 for six months [overseas]. Cheques and postal orders payable to NSZZ Solidarnosc should be sent to the NSZZ Solidarnose Information • Ofice, 314-320 Gray's Inn Road, London WC1X 8DP. Tel: 01-837 9464. tude of broad left women.

The Socialist Caucus (which includes SO supporters) and the new 'Labour Left' group make women's rights a central plank of their policy statements. And this year Militant supporters were divided over the issue of women-only schools. In spite of this, crucial motions on sexual harassment, women's education and the use of the union journal to increase women's involvement were lost after the most spurious opposition.

Militant even attempted to block affiliation to the National Abortion Campaign on the grounds that the motion proposing it contained mild criticism of the 1982/3 Broad Left NEC.

However, the voting was closer than ever before at this largest broad left conference, and many women felt that important steps are slowly being taken. But a measure of the distance still to be covered is the broad left slate for the CPSA national elections: it contains only two women, both Militant supporters. The policies adopted by this conference swung unpredictably from left to right and back again throughout the weekend. Mainly as a result of the inconsistent lines adopted by the new 'Labour Left' group (well to the left of Militant on some issues despite the witch-hunting atmosphere that gave birth to it).

Merger

A worrying development during the debate on the proposed merger of the CPSA with the SCPS (the Executive and Managerial Union) was the narrowly defeated bid by Militant to ditch the CPSA hard won workplace balloting system for union elections, which they have vehemently opposed since its inception.

However, their argument that the clandestine, almost masonic SCPS broad left would never permit a merger with such a democratic CPSA further exposes the disaster that such a merger would be. Unfortunately those that successfully defeated this motion failed to make the connection, and the principle of supporting such a merger remains broad left policy.

Troops Out On the international section despite moves to postpone the entire debate until the 1984 conference, the broad left finally adopted a motion calling for Troops Out of Ireland, and reaffirmed its support for Solidarnosc. INSIDE These policy decisions underline the political realign- (CND diary ments within the broad left Gay YS which are creating the beYouth training ginnings of a shift to the left.

scandal The stagnant entrenchment of Socialise Squaddies? Militant in electoral machine politics remains unaltered, but opposition to them within the broad left is becoming more determined and more political.

They failed to hold their ground on a number of issues, and only marginally won on others.

Lost impetus The 'Labour left' seen at the same conference as mainly an anti-Militant force has lost much of its impetus and its leadership are dropping more of its right-wing policy stances.

The Socialist Caucus won the arguments this year on several issues for the first DEFENCE time. Two caucus members, Rod Bacon and SO supporter Ian Leedham were elected to the Broad Left slate.

The CPSA needs a broad left that can link up with the massive resentment towards Tory government attacks on the Civil Service. For once this conference. may have helped instead of hindering that process.

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-International neu Botha's whit 54, 'majority' BOB FINE gives his view of the outcome of South Africa's constitutional referendum last week.

THE SOUTH African Prime Minister, Pieter Botha, has won backed United Democratic Front, the major black unions like FOSATU, even the very moderate Asian Reform Party.

The ANC let off a bomb to disrupt the referendum which apparently killed a black bus driver. Stalinist tank

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