On 29 December the Equal Pay and Sex Discrimination Acts came into force. The press has had a field day. Cartoons and comment have come from everv quarter.
The 'quality' papers have tended to play down the whole business. The Financial Times said on 30 December: "The whole fuss will have precious little effect and this is prob*They don't argue with their men' BRUCE TIPPED AS MALE PIG OF YEAR ably the best outcome.' The same message came from the Daily Telegraph. Citing a mass of figures and a graph, they estimate that the cost of the whole exercise will be no more than 3 per cent of the total wage bill. The message to the bosses is - don't worry, it won't hurt you inal badly The "popular' papers were less blase. They, after all, are talking to the masses. And the working class, it seems, has got just a little too keen on the notion of equality for woMCH to combine a slap on the back for women's rights fighters, interviewing a number of women workers, with a male pin-up (!) on the one hand and the following from Marjorie Proops on the other: 'We'll never rule the world for the simple reason that though with our minds we might like to, our hearts aren't really in it.' Oh well - back to square one.
it both ways, the prize must really go to the Sun.
December had on the same page the *Sun Equality Desk' - which highlights complaints about breaches of the new Acts - and a large article about English men looking for Asian wives..... because the latter are supposcary Happy to stay al nome and do as they're told. This undeniably neat combination of racism and sexism was capped by a half page picture containing no less than twelve bare breasted women spelling out "happy new year.
the Sun to express things in the crudest possible way) is quite simply to have your cake and eat it too. Equality we are told has been achieved..... but nothing is going to change. In reality, as the quality papers have made only too clear, the SDA and EPA have not had a significant effect on the position of women. The fight is only just beginning. That is precisely why the Mirror and the Sun are calling a halt. The Daily Mirror neatly managed **** But if the Mirror is trying to have Their issue of 31 The idea (you can always rely on crats* proposal that abortion should remain a criminal offence. In an unprecedented gesture of independence. the CP women's organisation, Unione Donne Italiane, rejected the draft bill; and the CP paper, L Unita, was forced to publish their protest.
The Socialists too are in disarray because of the resignation from Parliament of Loris Fortuna, who has now joined the Radicals. They have now put an amendment to give women, rather than doctors, the right to decide. This amendment is basically a strategic one, designed to split the Communist Party and preWe can guarantee that every £l donated will go towards the fight against capitalism and Wilson's anti-working class policies. With more capitalists going bankrupt every day, fewer and fewer people believe in the ability of capitalism to provide a decent house and job — yet alone a decent life. Socialism is needed to meet even the most elementary needs of existence.
But how can we get it? The IMG has set itself the task of building a credible revolutionary organisation: strengthening and expanding our publications, and developing the facilities and resources with which to build campaigns and organise effectively inside the labour movement.
You can help us in this vital task with money. Help us to win more people to socialism by contributing to the £15,000 Fund Drive. The mon ey you donate will go to: * Launching a Scottish Centre A 16-page Red Weekly * Strengthening and improving our publications and central apparatus Allocating more full-timers to our campaigns We have raised £5,500 so far. Now we need another £9,500 by the end of February. Send donations to Jo-Ann, 97 Caledonian Road, London N.1. (cheques/POs payable to "The Week"'). LONDON CONFERENCE ON SAT 28 FEBRUARY Sponsorship and donations are being sought from all labour movement and women's organisations. For further information contact 39 Parkholme Road, London E.8. 01-2493072.
'No British Government can accept such uncivilised brutal treatment of a British subject at the
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DAILY EXPRESS Equality Day-but 3 out of 4 women may be losers on jobs IT'S NOT SO FUNNY, LADY
INVEST YOUR MONEY IN THE ONLY GROWTH INDUS- TRY - THE IMG AND ITS £15,000 FUND DRIVE