EVEN the popular press has pointed out that abortion is a class issue and that the Corrie Bill washa class attack.
There's no doubt that the arrival of the Corrie Bill had a lot to do with the election of a Tory government that is out to attack the position of women; they where they'll be least resistance and rely on dividing the working class on sex lines.
The campaign against the Corrie Bill has shown that pressurising and working with the labour movement is a correct and successful approach and that it is important that we win trade unions and men to our side.
At the same time it must be remembered that 40 per cent of the TUC membership are women and that a major reason for the TUC being the first in the world to call what was probably the biggest ever demo for abortion rights was because women had not waited for any men to act on our behalf. The TUC went because wonder organising to win our demands.
If we are to achieve NAC's demands we need the support of the labour movement -but on what basis? If the Corrie Bill had gone through it would be women's lives that would be disastrously affected, and I don't think we should underestimate its results. It would be a major attack on women, affecting who they were think it's out. and all AT the 1972 Skegness Conference of the issues that directly affect women The National Abortion Campaign is discuss this Issue at conference that will be taking place in Below, Jan Parker, a member of the NAC steering committee and a full-time the recently successful Campaign Against Corrie, expresses her _personal views on this issue.
well as for class reasons.
To defeat attacks and to obtain a woman's right to choose we need a campaign, (and an organisation?), that includes the power of the labour movement with the strength and politics of the women's liberation movement. It is an uneasy alliance as events have shown and to groW on this alliance difficult as a result of these tensions. Women been in their 'rightful place' in — right in the forefront, but how do we continue to lead the campaign and get maximum involvement from men and the labour movement?
must be quite firm about its movement.
of parliamentary tactics our reproduction.
and power if we are Parker's contribution will be newsletter.
Inn Road, London NW1. the There.
movement and involve more women, including more women in the women's Historically the trade union movement has ignored women, the change is recent and to change consciousness takes even longer. NAC principles and demands in future activities with the labour If we decided to go for positive legislation we must make no compromises in the interests and stick our pos toman's right to ceose a very woman's right to choose subversive slogan — it means total control over It is a demand for women's rights and for women's liberation, which means that means we have no choice but to confront men's ideas to change anything: women's autonomy in NAC is central to how we assimilate this into the campaign.
This article is substantially based upon Jan the latest NAC This is available from 374 Grays welcome contributions any Socialist Challenge readers about where they think the abortion struggle should go from