A Women's Manifesto for International Women's Day
Yesterday on International Women's Day women members of our campaign published a "Women's Manifesto; Women Rise Up." Some time ago a group of women formed Feminists4John in order to develop the policy debate within our campaign on the policy issues facing women and to mobilise support amongst women for our campaign.
The Women's manifesto has been drafted to stimulate a real discussion on how we address gender inequality and empower women in our society. It is unacceptable for example that in 2007 over 30 years after the introduction of the Sex Discrimination Act there remains a significant pay gap between the wages of men and women and 2 million women pensioners do not even qualify for the basic state pension. In twenty first century Britain women are more likely to be in low paid employment than men, less likely to be in employment covered by a collective agreement and more likely to have had their jobs transfered from the public to the private sector. Women are much more likely to be carers and struggle to balance caring responsibilities with employment. Their caring role is largely unrecognised by Government and violence against women is endemic in our society.
Our women's manifesto sets out a number of key policy demands including:
Tackling women's poverty by challenging for equal pay and securing access to a decent pension for all women,
Improving childcare provision, maternity/paternity rights and financial support for home carers,
Repealing anti-trade union laws and introducing compulsory pay audits,
Ensuring a women's right to chose a free and safe abortion, maintaining the current time limit, and promoting women's health and enabling free access to IVF and safe childbirth,
Tackling violence against women, improving services and support for women who have suffered violence and rape,
Recognising formally the contribution women make to our economy in the wide variety of roles they play in our community.
If you would like to obtain a copy of the "Women's Manifesto" and participate in this policy dialogue contact our campaign by email on info@john4leader.org.uk or by post at John4Leader Campaign PO Box 2378, London E5 9QU.
The Women's manifesto has been drafted to stimulate a real discussion on how we address gender inequality and empower women in our society. It is unacceptable for example that in 2007 over 30 years after the introduction of the Sex Discrimination Act there remains a significant pay gap between the wages of men and women and 2 million women pensioners do not even qualify for the basic state pension. In twenty first century Britain women are more likely to be in low paid employment than men, less likely to be in employment covered by a collective agreement and more likely to have had their jobs transfered from the public to the private sector. Women are much more likely to be carers and struggle to balance caring responsibilities with employment. Their caring role is largely unrecognised by Government and violence against women is endemic in our society.
Our women's manifesto sets out a number of key policy demands including:
Tackling women's poverty by challenging for equal pay and securing access to a decent pension for all women,
Improving childcare provision, maternity/paternity rights and financial support for home carers,
Repealing anti-trade union laws and introducing compulsory pay audits,
Ensuring a women's right to chose a free and safe abortion, maintaining the current time limit, and promoting women's health and enabling free access to IVF and safe childbirth,
Tackling violence against women, improving services and support for women who have suffered violence and rape,
Recognising formally the contribution women make to our economy in the wide variety of roles they play in our community.
If you would like to obtain a copy of the "Women's Manifesto" and participate in this policy dialogue contact our campaign by email on info@john4leader.org.uk or by post at John4Leader Campaign PO Box 2378, London E5 9QU.
posted by John at 6:13 PM
8 Comments:
Labourhome.org is currently running a poll asking who readers believe would be the more credible candidate to champion the cause of the Labour Left in the Party's leadership elections... McDonnell or Meacher.
Get on the site, vote for John McDonnell!
Have just done so - too late for anyone else to vote in the Tribune poll but FYI 93 per cent said Meacher was wrong to stand as leader. The Labour HOme pollis even more specific so get voting!!!
John has declared his support for one of the candidates on the all-women shortlist to represent Labour in Manchester Withington at the next general election.
Full story at action-without-theory
Re access to decent pensions and support for carers, a Citizen's Pension and Citizen's Income-style welfare system would sort all this out at a stroke.
I just read Nigel Griffiths has resigned over Trident...
This issue will be tricky for the Blairites I feel, the fact that they will have to count on Conservative backing in order to get this is but another symptom of the growing isolation of the New Labour clique (in the Party and now possibly to a certain extent in Parliament - at least on some issue such as this one and Lords) as well as one further display of their true colours. They're anti-Labour true and through... and a fine job they're doing preserving Maggie's legacy.
However, Griffiths' voting record on Theyworkforyou.com is hardly impressive:
Moderately for introducing a smoking ban.
Very strongly for introducing ID cards.
Very strongly for introducing foundation hospitals.
Quite strongly for introducing student top-up fees.
Very strongly for Labour's anti-terrorism laws.
Very strongly for the Iraq war.
Quite strongly against investigating the Iraq war.
Very strongly for the fox hunting ban.
In light of this, old Nigel simply comes off as yet another crew member abandoning the sinking New Labour ship.
the women's manifesto sounds like it will give Harriet Harman a run for her money!
I texted The Mirror recently to say it was good that they had mentioned John on the front page as a leadership contender. He is mentioned along with Jeremy Corbyn on page 2 today in an article about the trident vote tomorrow which should be a big rebellion against the goverment line. You can text The Mirror by Hope the anti-trident Parliamentary lobby goes well. Maybe Parliament should start working weekends then people with other commitments in the week could attend! (Not sure if this is the answer as of course MPS need a break at some point duirng the week as with any job but we are getting further and further away from traditional working patters now so anything could be possible as long as we don't overwork of course; paying people who look after their children/relatives as John supports in the women's manifesto summary above would be great though if we get a socialist government as they still need transport and occasional childcare for things like dentist appointments (not to mention if they want to go on demos!) unless they can find part-time work with a salary to spend on these essentials as well as food etc.
You can read my blow-by-blow blog from TUC women's conference (including a report on the LRC fringe meeting and support for John among delegates) here.
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