WOMEN in Britain are not getting equal pay with men. fact, unemployment and the concentration of women in low paid industries, women are falling back even further behind men at WUTA LUGO.
These were the alarming facts revealed in the annual report of the Equal Pay Commission, published last week, five years after the implementation of the Equal Pay and Sex Discrimination Acts.
Female earnings now stand at 73 per cent of men's — a z.i per cent arop. •Unempioyment among women has gone up by five per cent in the last ycal.
EOC claims that she is still 'optimistic'. but that is still cold comfort for thousands of women facing due rising dustries betweet Betty Lockwood, chairman (sic) of the and rising that have traditionally •arzanl, bower This means women are losing out in the pay battle.
unions have a responsibility to tackle this problem. A minimum wage alongside the demame Tor equal pay IOI would be a big step forward for women. vital. of all, job segregation must be broken dowr wonen and meu are to take their rightful place as a permanent and equal part of the workforce in Britain.
had greater woman concerned.
• work of equal value But most at work if the womer right to work.
and suggests that ol uc Dex Fear coutereus organised absolutely dependence in the job market. It sees its purpose as simply of individual discrimination Positive discrimination on the other hand -that is quotas for the hiring of women in male-dominated industries and in the higher grades makes it possible for women to tight collectivel and win collective agreements for positive action. The TUC women's committee now has policy on this but action is needed to delend a womar On the EOC's own admission the number of cases have declined sharply as people have realised that the new legislation is not working. But even this toothless body is not much for the Tories. One Conservative MP. tony Marlow, ha: demanded its abolition on the grounds that it's full of self indulgent busy bodies!
The report expresses the fear that, in a time of austerity, women's rights tend to be regarded as a • CYCL some trade wuusts becomes more vital than ever that women become Shop sewards commies, on tra de councils and women's rights committees, Labour Party wards — to ensure that we make it clear to every trade unionist that on co ÍO O pay and job opportunity is fundamental to our inas human That's why it's crucial to defend and extend these menis it a unes es to de dur wita Enc trade unions against the Tory attacks. using a bib and brace'. Helen Saunders - the arbitary reason for kicking her off a training course was that her 'breasts would cause problems when