AT LAST a major trade union has called for action against the Corrie Bill at the time of its third reading next month.
NALGO, the union government white-collar workers, is February'.
Sadly, it's not surprising that very few unions have come forward with support against the Corrie Bill.
The demonstration October was exciting partly at least because it was so unusual to find the trade union prepared to take action on a 'women's issue.
Yet if the Bill is to be scrapped it will entirely depend on whether large sections of the labour movement are prepared to act.
The experience in NALGO should give encouragement to all those who are hoping to get their own unions to take a clear position on the Bill.
Geoffrey Drain, general secretary of NALGO, has issued a letter to all branches and district stating the executive's position.
*The Abortion Amendment which seeks to restrict the operation of the '67 Abortion Act comes up for its third reading (the decisive vote) on 8 February', the letter explains. majority of Mies voted for the Bill *At its second reading of local Tuesday movement would therefore urge Abortion COTLISILECCS Bill them at the lobby.
of support the advisory. But Chiller a the NALGO, however, is totally opposed to any restriction of the '67 Act and I branches to support the lobby of Parliament on 5 February to oppose the Corrie Bill.' The letter goes on to point out that thelobby is organised by the National Campaign and by South-east Regional Council of the TUC. NALGO members are advised to write to their MP and attempt to see The letter does not have the status members to lobby; purely strike will probably number of NALGO members to take action who might otherwise have stayed at work on the day of the lobby. It is up to NALGO members up and down the country to make sure this happens.
In Haringey NALGO branch in North London, a motion calling on the union to back all those taking action on that day was carried. movers of the motion were called to an emergency meeting of the union's national executive anti-Corrie campaign was discussed.
Those discussions helped firm up decisions of the NALGO leadership, who made it clear that the union authorised any member taking strike action on 5 February. A letter from the executive will clarity that anyone taking action on 5 February will have its blessing.
NALGO is not well-known for its willingness to back industrial action, but it is making a stand on this issue. If NALGO will do that then should expect a great deal more from some other unions.
NUFE. for example, has had a very good position on abortion there's still time for the executive to back strike action for 5 February.
It is vital that all pro-abortion trade unionists pull out the stops to get the maximum official support for action and support lobby. It's the only way to stop the Corrie Bill becoming law