Workers Solidarity Movement

You thought that equal pay had been sorted years ago? Well, according to the United Nations, women and girls do two thirds of the world’s work for 5% of the income. Of the world’s 550 million working poor, those unable to lift themselves and their families above the $1 per day threshold, 330 million, or 60%, are women.

Members of the Workers Solidarity Movement will be joining the abortion rights campaign 'Choice Ireland' at a Dublin protest on Saturday August 18th. This will take place outside the Womens Rsource Centre, 50 Dorset Street from 12-1pm.

I am going to look generally at the issue of woman’s work. Initially a very quick survey of the global position – then some more specific stuff on wage differentials, house work, work conditions, child care in Europe and Ireland with some possible suggestions for some points for our new program maybe to be incorporated into a general section on work.

Members of the Workers Solidarity Movement will be joining the abortion rights campaign 'Choice Ireland' at a Dublin protest on Saturday August 18th. This will take place outside the Womens Rsource Centre, 50 Dorset Street from 12-1pm.

They are drawing attention to a bogus agency (which has connections to the Catholic fundamental Christian Solidarity Party) which lies to women.

Choice is also calling for regulation which would make it obligatory for pregnancy agencies to declare in their advertising whether the information they give is 'two-option' (parenting and adoption) or 'three-option' (parenting, adoption and abortion).

In 1941 a bill was brought before the Dail which would make trade unions pay for licences to negotiate on behalf of their members. Without a licence workers and their unions could be sued by employers for loss of profits if they went on strike. This blatant attempt at extorting money from unions was not taken well. The Dublin Trades’ Council, representing 60,000 workers, called the bill ‘a partisan attack on the working classes’. The Irish Women Workers Union urged opposition to the bill and on June 4th 100 shop stewards endorsed their union’s stand.

Choice Ireland are organising a demonstration on Saturday 30 June in support of abortion rights in Ireland. The theme of the demonstration is:

Fight For Womens Right To Choose.

Called by Choice Ireland to bring together pro-choice forces and discuss how best to advance the struggle for abortion rights in Ireland.

The D-case is that of a 17 year old woman who has been prevented travelling to England for an abortion. If she is forced to go through with the pregnancy the baby will die soon after birth as the foetus has anencephaly which means parts of the skull and the brain are missing. What follows are reports on solidarity demonstrations on Saturday 5th and Monday 7th May.

This morning, 30 people took part in a solidarity action supporting "Miss D" in her case to be allowed travel abroad for an abortion. The court case continues tomorrow. Rally on Saturday.

Choice Ireland have called a rally in support of Miss D's right to travel for an abortion, and to demand that all parties commit to legislating for the X case.