sis

ters

JOURNAL OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF W

OMEN 50PSPRING 2015

2 the women’s parliament

3, 4, 5 women and health

in europe

6 world peace council

7 dignity in age

8 mayor white

8 naw autumn seminar

SALLY HUNT IS CHAIR OF THE 2015 TUC WOMEN’S CONFERENCE

women can make a real differenceSALLY HUNT IS A MEMBER OFTHE TUC’S GENERAL COUNCILAND IS THIS YEAR’S CHAIR OFTHE TUC WOMEN’SCONFERENCE

SHE HAS BEEN GENERALSECRETARY OF THEUNIVERSITY AND COLLEGEUNION (UCU) SINCE 2007

Iam incredibly proud and honoured tobe the chair of this year’s TUC

Women’s Conference. With less thantwo months to go until theWestminster election, there is muchwe have to debate and some seriousissues we have to address.The election and what the parties

are offering women deserves specialscrutiny, but so does how womenhave reacted to the coalition’s policies,what the parties are offering in the runup to the election and the importanceof voting.Throughout history, women have

had to fight for their political voice,sadly not least within trade unionsthemselves. Amazingly, women havestill only been eligible to vote in parlia-mentary elections for less than 100years. Unfortunately, though, notenough women are making use of thathard won vote today.In recent general elections, turnout

amongst women has been disappoint-ingly low. Politicians and politics musttake some of the blame. We still havemainstream politics run by and formiddle-aged white man in suits, whichmeans that politics has an image prob-lem.Women are still massively under -

represented. Despite making up over50% of the UK population, only 22% ofMPs are female. David Cameron’s“women problem” has been writ largein the media. Before the last electionhe committed to making sure that athird of his cabinet would comprisewomen. He has not even managedthat as just one in five of the frontbench are women.The prime minister’s high profile fall

outs with Nadine Dorries of his ownparty and Angela Eagle from theLabour Party highlighted his lack ofunderstanding of the issues facingwomen in the workplace or even ingeneral. Although a patronising videoaimed at women by the cross-partypro-union campaign during theScottish referendum did little to suggest that any of the main partiesreally have any idea how to speak towomen.While we need to be highlighting

these incidents, we also need to bedoing more to challenge them. Toooften people say that they areswitched off from politics becausenobody is listening to them or fightingtheir corner. And, when you considerthe way in which the policies of the

coalition government have systemati-cally disadvantaged women across theUK, it’s little wonder that women mayturn their back on politics.Cuts to public services, welfare, edu-

cation and the NHS have all hit hard,stripping away vital safety nets, and inmany cases it’s women who’ve lostthe most. Too many women findthemselves in low-paid, insecure jobs,struggling to make ends meet as thecost of living rises.Many women aren’t engaging in

politics because they don’t feel repre-sented by those in leadership posi-tions, but there’s little incentive forpoliticians to cater to people who don’tturn out to vote.That’s where female trade unionists

come in. We need to set an examplefor how women can make a real differ-ence if they stand up for what’s impor-tant.We need to be leaders in the fight to

ensure that women’s issues are repre-sented. And we need to encourage asmany women as possible to registerand vote, so that politicians can nolonger ignore our needs.I look forward to the conference,

where women trade unionists fromacross the UK will decide on the priori-ties for the year ahead and considerhow we can work together to helpshape what happens at the ballot boxon Thursday 7 May.As part of UCU’s work to celebrate

International Women’s Day, we haveproduced a film and postcard lookingat women in trade unions and theirvital role. The film A woman’s place isin the union can be viewed atwww.ucu.org.uk/equality where youcan also download the accompanyingpostcard based on the Rosie theRiveter poster.

the agendaAUSTERITY IS AT THE HEART OF THE TUCWOMEN’S CONFERENCE AGENDA

THE TUC is the voice of Britain atwork. There are 54 affiliated unions

representing nearly six million work-ing people. It campaigns for a fair dealat work and for social justice at homeand abroad. Women now make up justover half of all union members and area powerful force for change.The annual TUC Women’s Con -

ference brings together women fromall walks of life and from all levels inthe trade union movement. The con-ference provides an opportunity forwomen to share their experience andcelebrate their successes.This year the 47 motions cover a

range of issues, most notably thestruggle against austerity and itsimpact on women. A significant num-ber of motions address the issue ofgender inequality at work and focus onrestoring the real value of the NationalMinimum Wage; the gender pay gapand the campaign against zero hourscontracts. These are areas which hitwomen the hardest. The Office forNational Statistics reports that over 2.7million people are on precarious con-tracts and the TUC research showsthat 55% of zero hours contract work-ers are women.The inevitable outcome of the casu-

alisation of work is increased povertyand latest figures indicate that 26% ofwomen are now being paid less thanthe minimum wage compared to 16%of men. Low paid work, particularlylow paid part-time work is dispropor-tionately performed by women and isa major barrier to tackling householdpoverty by working families. The gen-der pay gap remains high and the UKnow stands 26th in the Global GenderGap League Table, having slippedfrom 9th in 2006. The gender gap inpensions has also risen. The savage cuts to services and ben-

efits and the rising cost of child care isforcing more women to stay at hometo look after children and care forelderly and disabled relatives often inextreme poverty. It is unsurprisingtherefore that the use of food banksand number of female suicides hasincreased.It is inevitable that the tone and con-

tent of many of the motions cata-logues the bleak situation faced bymany women. Despite this, the call tocampaign for equality and justiceremains strong and to reject attemptsto divide us by our race, colour or reli-gion. This sense of unity of purposehas always been at the heart of theTUC Women’s Conference and longmay it remain so.

2

women and health in europe

ANITA WRIGHT REPORTS ON THE WIDFREGIONAL SEMINAR – THE STRUGGLE FORFREE PUBLIC HEALTHCARE

WOMEN from seven Europeancountries gathered in Brussels at

the beginning of February for theWomen’s International DemocraticFederation regional seminar on thecampaign for free healthcare. Theseminar took place at the prestigiousEuropean Parliament building courtesyof the Greek Communist PartyParliamentary Group (KKE).

Mairini Stefanidi from the GreekWomen’s Organisation (OGE) wel-comed delegates and outlined howausterity policies had seriously under-mined public health services acrossEurope. The rise in ill health and mor-bidity, particularly in working classareas, was a direct result of budgetcuts, outsourcing of services and pri-vatisation.

Skevi Koukouma, WIDF VicePresident and Cypriot Akel MP saidthat women’s health was differentfrom men’s notably because of preg-nancy and child birth. She was con-cerned that the rise of conservatismwas having a profound effect onaccess to free, safe abortion and thatpoor access to early diagnosis ofbreast cancer was leading to a rise indeaths. The latest attack on publichealth care was the TransatlanticTrade and Investment Partnership(TTIP) being negotiated between theEU and USA which would pave theway for the further privatisation of ser-vices. In particular it would open themarket to the big pharmaceutical com-panies who already make a huge profitout of ill health. Throughout the day, delegates pre-

sented the situation in their own coun-

try. Ada Donno (AWRM) spoke of therise in a parallel health market in Italywhere 55% of care is operated by theprivate market and much of the man-agement is shameful and corrupt. Shesaid that this was being justified onthe grounds of improving efficiencyand reducing wastage when in fact itwas an ideological attack and TTIPwould make this situation worse.Regina Marques (MDM) explained thatalthough healthcare in Portugal isstate funded, universal and free at thepoint of need it is slowly being erodedwith a significant increase in hospitalbeds now under private control.

Blanca Rivas Gonzalez (AFS) saidthat women’s health has becomeincreasingly medicalised and the phar-maceutical industry is capitalising onthis. She also stressed that theCatholic Church is influencing thedebate on abortion rights and blockinga woman’s right to choose. She report-ed a 21% rise in mental illness in Spainand that the increase in waiting timefor a hospital bed has led to a rise indeaths. Cise Midoglu (UWEF) said thatin Turkey extensive privatisation ismaking health care inaccessible. Thesociety is beset by superstition andreligious dogma which is restrictingthe role of women in society and mak-ing them more isolated.After a fruitful discussion the semi-

nar endorsed a statement to be hand-ed to the European Parliament Com -mittees for the Women’s Rights andHealth. In closing the seminar, WIDFRegional Co-ordinator, Christina Ska -loubaka (OGE) called on delegates toview the fight for free, public health-care as the fight for life itself.

the Women’s InternationalDemocratic Federation’sEuropean Regiondemands for a free,publically ownedhealthcare system:

■ A fully funded universal health-care service exclusively public andfree of charge at the point of usefor all the people■ Preventive medical tests forwomen and children free ofcharge ■ Medicines supplied free ofcharge■ Free of charge maternity careand specialist support for pre andpost natal care■ Hospitals and health centresshould be fully equipped andstaffed to meet the people’sneeds. Staff recruitment with full-time, permanent and exclusivecontracts■ Universal access to free ofcharge reproductive, gynecologi-cal, Sexually Transmitted Diseases(STD) and abortion services■ Healthcare at workplaces,schools, playgrounds, gyms etc byoccupational health specialistsand safety experts that areemployed by the state instead ofprivate■ Public home care services freeof charge■ Abolishment of all fees andevery business activity in health-care-welfare-medicine, as this isthe only way to achieve contem-porary, high-standard, global andfree of charge health services forall the people and especially forwomen and children that needthem the most

FOR THE FULL STATEMENT SEEWWW.SISTERS.ORG.UK

3

women’s physical and mental health under attackANITA WRIGHT PRESENTED THE FOLLOWINGREPORT AT THE WIDF SEMINAR IN BRUSSELSIN FEBRUARY 2015

SINCE the elections in May 2010 theConservative-led coalition govern-

ment has used the economic crisis tolaunch an offensive against workingclass people and their families. Theyare ruthlessly pursuing policies torestore the profits of the financial sec-tor and to use the British state andgovernment to enforce the interests ofbig business at whatever cost to themass of workers and their families. This has meant unprecedented cuts

in state expenditure and the privatisa-tion of the public sector, particularlythe National Health Service and educa-tion. The result for ordinary familieshas been lower wages, a rise in unem-ployment and poverty. These mea-sures have had a disproportionateimpact on women as workers, serviceusers and carers and are having seri-ous consequences for women’s physi-cal and mental wellbeing.

hospitalemergency andmaternityservices underthreatCuts to health care services and theintroduction of the Health and SocialCare Act 2012 have paved the way forgreater privatisation of services. Thishas resulted in staff shortages, longerwaiting times, and the downgrading orclosure of over 30 accident and emer-gency units and 33 maternity units.Community campaigners and trade

unions have vigorously fought againstthese policies, and there have beensome successes notably the campaignto save Accident and Emergency andmaternity services at Lewisham hospi-tal in south London.WWW.KEEPOURNHSPUBLIC.COM

mental healthserviceschronicallyunderfundedHigher unemployment and povertyinevitably leads to a rise in depressionand other mental health problems.Mental health services are alreadychronically underfunded, getting only13% of the NHS budget despite mentalhealth problems accounting for 28% ofill health. In March 2014 the NHSEngland and Monitor, the health regu-lator recommended cutting funding for

mental health services by 20% morethan that for acute hospitals in com-plete contravention of the govern -ment’s promise to put mental andphysical healthcare on an equal foot-ing. They did this to shift resourcesand cover up the underfunding in thehospital sector which was puttingpatients’ lives at risk.Early intervention teams who pro-

vide services for children and youngpeople have also seen cuts of 50% inthe last year which places a huge bur-den on families, particularly motherswho are the main carer.

4

domesticviolence servicesat breaking point

Over 1.2 million women were estimat-ed to have experienced domestic vio-lence in 2013 and two women a weekare killed by perpetrators. The govern-ment could significantly reduce thenumber of women and children hurtand killed by violent partners but hasrefused to adequately fund the volun-tary sector that provides women’srefuges. A survey undertaken byWomen’s Aid last year showed that inone day alone 155 women and 100children were turned away. Changesto legal aid which limits funding forsome cases have also adverselyimpacted on women’s ability to pro-tect themselves and children from vio-lence and harassment.

sure startnurseries andchildren’scentres facemore budgetcuts

Sure Start nurseries and Children’sCentre’s were created by the previousLabour government to provide childcare and family services to disadvan-

taged families offering parenting sup-port, help for job seekers and classesto learn English. The funding was ring-fenced and administered through thelocal authority. The current govern-ment removed the ring-fencing andbecause of cuts to local councils thisservice now faces huge pressures.Department for Education’s data has

found that, when compared to spend-ing in 2011-12, there has been an over-all cut of 20% over the three yearsamounting to £830m less than it other-wise would have been. This has meantthat many centres have been forced toclose or drastically reduce their ser-vice. Many councils are consulting onchanges, including Newcastle, whichwants to close all 20 of its centres;Liverpool, which plans to close 23 outof 26; and Staffordshire, which wantsto slash its number from 54 to 10.

sexual health,contraceptiveand abortionservices underthreatFamily planning and sexual healthadvice services like other health ser-vices have faced massive cuts. TheFamily Planning Association forecaststhe impact of further cuts: ■ up to 83,648 additional live birthsresulting from a rise in unplannedpregnancies

■ STIs are currently rising with 5%increase. The restriction of other sexu-al health services could lead to a fur-ther extra 91,620 STIs per year■ an additional £10bn in costs to theNHS and welfare should cuts worsen■ This will increase the UK’s futurehealth and welfare expenditure by£136.7 billion; equating to an 8.7%increase in total costs;This warning came despite well-

known insights that investment in sex-ual health provision actually savesmoney. For every £1 spent on contra-ception, the nation saves £12.50.The rise in unplanned pregnancies

and continued attempts by anti-choicecampaigners to restrict access to safe,free abortion services could have ahugely detrimental effect on women’shealth and their long term wellbeing.

european unionand usa tradeagreement athreat to healthservicesThe Transatlantic Trade and Invest -ment Partnership (TTIP) is a compre-hensive free trade and investmenttreaty currently being negotiated – insecret – between the European Unionand the USA. The main goal of TTIP isto remove regulatory ‘barriers’ whichrestrict the potential profits to be madeby transnational corporations on bothsides of the Atlantic. If this agreementis finalised it will hold a particularthreat to the public sector, includingour National Health Service, which thegovernment refuses to exempt it from.It will tie the hands of all future gov-ernments – because TTIP includes anInvestor State Dispute Settlementclause which means that once invitedin, private companies will gain theright to sue if they are ever booted outby a programme of nationalisation.

HTTP://WWW.KEEPOURNHSPUBLIC.COMHTTP://999CALLFORNHS.ORG.UK

5

women’s physical and mental health under attack

Manchester Council to run localNHS: The recently announced dealbetween George Osborne andManchester to devolve responsibili-ty for NHS services to the localcouncil paves the way for the fur-ther fragmentation of our NHS.The Greater Manchester DevolutionAgreement has been pushedthrough with no democraticengagement or mandate from themillions of people whose lives willbe affected. As local council bud-gets get squeezed even further it isinevitable that like other servicesthe NHS in the area will be out-sources or privatised.

HTTP://WWW.THEPEOPLESASSEMBLY.ORG.UK/MANCHESTER

for a peaceful world

THE WORLD PEACE COUNCIL –CAMPAIGNING FOR A JUST, DEMOCRATICAND PEACEFUL WORLD. LIZ PAYNE REPORTSON THE ANNUAL MEETING OF THE WORLDPEACE COUNCIL

THE World Peace Council (WPC)describes itself as “an anti-imperi-

alist, democratic, independent andnon-aligned international movementof mass action”. It is the largest peaceorganisation in the world, being basedin more than 100 countries and is anNGO member of the United Nations. While attending the annual meeting

of its Executive Committee in Goa,India in November 2014, I was struckby the synergy of purpose betweenthe WPC, which celebrates its 65thanniversary this year and theWomen’s International DemocraticFederation (WIDF) which is celebratingits 70th anniversary. Both organisa-tions were born in the wake of thedefeat of Hitler fascism to help bringabout a world in which the war andterror it unleashed could never happenagain. The WIDF is based on thepremise that women can only achievejustice in conditions where peace pre-vails and that the cessation of war is apre-requisite of women’s equality. Inintroducing this the 65th year since theestablishment of the WPC, itsPresident, Socorro Gomes said, “Wewill continue to organise and engagein campaigns of great relevance, forthe eradication of military basesspread over the world, for the elimina-tion of nuclear weapons, for NATO’sdissolution and for a new internationalsystem which can replace the currentretrograde one”. The WPC also campaigns for the

elimination of chemical and biologicalweapons and the reduction of conven-tional arms. It supports liberationmovements and the resolution of

regional conflicts on the basis of theright of people to self-determinationand works in the interests of economicand social development towards thecreation of a just, democratic andpeaceful world. All of this was reflected in detail in

the report of work presented to theExecutive Committee by WPC GeneralSecretary, Thanassis Pafilis. It outlinedthe issues that the WPC had addressedand the activities in which it has beenengaged across the continents, includ-ing supporting the protests at theNATO summit in South Wales inSeptember. Imperialism’s New MiddleEast Plan was condemned. One speak-er said that the Middle East is beingreborn through catastrophe. Those present stressed that cam-

paigners for peace must counter theideological barrage from the massmedia which presents horrific militaryaggression as “humanitarian”. Thefinal communique of the meeting stat-ed unequivocally that imperialism inall its forms is the enemy of peace andasked that peace organisations tomark the 70th anniversary of thebombing of Hiroshima and Nagasakiby demanding the abolition of nuclearweapons and the 40th anniversary ofthe liberation of South Vietnam bycalling for the banning of all chemicalarmaments.The All India Peace and Solidarity

Organisation (AIPSO), which hostedthe meeting of the WPC Executive,also organised a one day seminar onPalestine to coincide with the UN Dayof Solidarity with the PalestinianPeople. Speakers at the seminarincluded Annie Raja, GeneralSecretary of the National Federation ofIndian Women and the writer and aca-demic, Githa Hariharan who won theCommonwealth Writers’ Prize in 1993for her first novel The Thousand Facesof Night. Hundreds of local people,including scores of school and collegestudents, packed into a local venue forthe final rally in solidarity with thePalestinian people addressed by WPCand AIPSO leaders.Overall, the five days spent in Goa

were for me an inspiration and anaffirmation of the strength and poten-tial of international cooperation for apeaceful and just world.

21 march:

united

nations anti-

racism day

IN 2014, 10,000 people marched incentral London for UN Anti-Racism

day which commemorates theanniversary of the Sharpeville mas-sacre in Apartheid South Africa. It waspart of a series of demonstrationsacross Europe and around the world. People are taking to the streets in

large numbers to oppose the racistPegida movement in Germany and theNeo-Nazi Golden Dawn in Greece, andto protest against institutional racismand police violence against Black com-munities. People are outraged at the

Islamophobic and anti-Semitic back-lash after the Copenhagen and Parisattacks, and the mass media silence onthe Chapel Hill shootings where threeMuslim students were brutally shotdead, so many have mobilised underthe slogan ‘Muslim Lives Matter’.Immigrant communities are fed up

with being wrongly blamed for an eco-nomic crisis they did not create. On UN anti-racism day people

across the world will be taking a stand.A huge demonstration this year inBritain, just a month before theGeneral Election will send a powerfulmessage to all politicians that we arethe many and we will stand up againstracism.

6

There is currently an initiative

underway in Britain to reactivate

the British Peace Assembly as

an affiliate of the WPC.

This was welcomed by the WPC

executive and it looked forward

to working with the

organisation.

SATURDAY 21 MARCH 2015MARCH AND RALLY ORGANISED BY

STAND UP TO RACISM, SUPPORTED BY THE TUC

ASSEMBLE 12 NOON

BBC PORTLAND PLACE, LONDON W1A 1AA

(NEAREST TUBE OXFORD CIRCUS)

RALLY IN TRAFALGAR SQUARE

dignity in ageYVONNE WASHBOURNE REPORTS ON THEDIGNITY CODE CAMPAIGN

YVONNE (SECOND FROM LEFT) IS CHAIR OFTHE MIDLAND REGION TUC’S PENSIONERSNETWORK AND AN EXECUTIVE COMMITTEEMEMBER OF THE NAW

AS part of the ongoing NHS cam-paign and promoting the National

Pensioners Convention’s (NPC) DignityCode, I helped organise two events inthe West Midlands in January 2015,one at the new Queen ElizabethHospital Birmingham and the other inWolverhampton’s Civic Hall. The needto continue the fight against privatisa-tion in the NHS was well received andhundreds signed our petition whichwill be presented to local politicians. The petition supporting the Dignity

Code, which demands that the rightsand personal dignity of older peopleless able to care for themselves ismaintained, also had a great response.Some gave horror stories but manypraised Care Workers who were doinga great job on low pay and on zerohours contracts.The Dignity Code although primarily

about older people, recognises that inorder to deliver its demands workersneed to be treated with dignity too andprovided with proper training, goodconditions of service and a properwork/life balance.Some local authorities, GPs and

Care Homes have signed up to theCode including the new care minister,Norman Lamb MP. Following a recentmeeting with the minister, the NPC isnow discussing with the Departmentof Health how to distribute the Codeacross every hospital, GP surgery andcare home. Already many local author-ities have signed up to the Code,alongside a number of MPs, careproviders, regulators, academics andcharities but more is needed. You cansupport the campaign by writing toyour local council and MP and askingthem to add their namesWhile Care Workers, the NHS and

Older People are seen as only a cog ina money making machine the cam-paigns for Dignity and the NHS mustcontinue as they are intrinsicallylinked.

The purpose of this Dignity Code isto uphold the rights and maintainthe personal dignity of older people,within the context of ensuring thehealth, safety and well being ofthose who are increasingly less ableto care for themselves or to properlyconduct their affairs.This Code recognises that certain

practices and actions are unaccept-able to older people, such as:■ Being abusive or disrespectful inany way, ignoring people or assum-ing they cannot do things forthemselves■ Treating older people as objectsor speaking about them in their pres-ence as if they were not there■ Not respecting the need forprivacy■ Not informing older people ofwhat is happening in a way that theycan understand■ Changing the older person’s envi-ronment without their permission■ Intervening or performing carewithout consent■ Using unnecessary medication orrestraints■ Failing to take care of an olderperson’s personal appearance■ Not allowing older people tospeak for themselves, either directlyor through the use of a friend, rela-tive or advocate■ Refusing treatment on thegrounds of age

This Code therefore calls for:■ Respect for individuals to make uptheir own minds, and for their per-sonal wishes as expressed in ‘livingwills’, for implementation when theycan no longer express themselvesclearly■ Respect for an individual’s habits,values, particular cultural back-ground and any needs, linguistic orotherwise■ The use of formal spoken terms ofaddress, unless invited to dootherwise■ Comfort, consideration, inclusion,participation, stimulation and asense of purpose in all aspects ofcare■ Care to be adapted to the needs ofthe individual■ Support for the individual to main-tain their hygiene and personalappearance■ Respect for people’s homes, livingspace and privacy■ Concerns to be dealt with thor-oughly and the right to complainwithout fear of retribution■ The provision of advocacy ser-vices where appropriate

NATIONAL PENSIONERS’ CONVENTION WALKDEN HOUSE, 10 MELTON STREETLONDON NW1 2EJ

WWW.NPCUK.ORG

7

the npc dignity code

8

join the NAW now!I would like to join the NAW. Here is £20 for the annual subscription (£10

unwaged) which includes my subscription to sisters, the journal of the NAW.

Our organisation would like to affiliate to the NAW. Enclosed is:

£20 (local organisation/NAW branch), £45 (regional organisation), £60

(national)

Name

Address

postcode

Organisation

phone email

Send to: NAW, 1 Lee Close, Knutsford, Cheshire WA16 0DW

what’s on...The next NAW ExecutiveCommittee meeting (open to allmembers) is Saturday 21 March inLondonThe 2015 Annual General

Meeting will be held on Saturday18 April at the Unison Centre,LondonContact NAW Secretary Anita

Wright on naw@sisters.org.uk or atNAW, Bridge House, NewportStreet, Hay on Wye, Powys HR35BG

A colour pdf of Sisters can bedownloaded at www.sisters.org.uk

Afew months ago,much to my sur-

prise, a whisper wasgoing around that Iwas going to be putforward for theMayor of Redbridge.I never thought thatthis would happen tome as I have only beena councillor for just underfive years. Sure enough myname was put forward and I was elect-ed unopposed.What does the job entail I ask

myself. To tell you the truth I don’treally know but I have had some train-ing on the local citizenship eventswhere the Mayor plays a leading role.Something that I have found out

about is “Mayors for Peace”. With thebelief that we must not allow any repe-tition of the tragedies caused by atom-

Barbara White mayor

elect of Redbridge

ic bombings, Hiroshima and Nagasakiestablished Mayors for Peace on 24June 1982 to realise lasting worldpeace through inter-solidarity aroundthe globe. Today, Mayors for Peacehas grown to more than 6,000 membercities in 160 countries and regions. Itgoes without saying that I will be urg-ing our council to allow me to join.I become Mayor of Redbridge on 14

May 2015 so that will be a big day forme. Speaking of big, all of the Mayor’srobes drown me and are far too heavyfor me to wear so they are having anew robe made for me. As these aretimes of austerity cuts I did suggestgoing to Mothercare and buying a littlered riding hood outfit as that would becheaper but they are going ahead withthe new robes. Please send me lots of positive

thoughts on the 14 May as I will needthem!

BARBARA WHITE IS A MEMBER OF THE NAWEXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

WWW.MAYORSFORPEACE.ORG

the people’s manifesto

The People’s Assembly AgainstAusterity launched The People’sManifesto at its national meetingheld in Manchester at the end ofFebruary. The Manifesto sets out ina clear and straightforward way analternative economic plan whichwould build a fairer and just soci-ety. The Manifesto also throwsdown a challenge to all the candi-dates in the forthcoming GeneralElection to say exactly where theystand on austerity. This is a timelyand useful document whichdeserves a wide distribution.

WWW.THEPEOPLESASSEMBLY.ORG.UK

after thegeneralelectionwhat now

for women?Saturday 17 October and Sunday 18October 2015

From 2pm Saturday to 12 noonSunday

Wortley Hall, Wortley Village, SheffieldS35 7DB

A weekend seminar organised by theNAW with the support and financialassistance of the Raymond WilliamsFoundation

autumn seminarTime to take stock and plan the wayforward. Small group discussions,with keynote speakers to beannounced

All-in (subsidised) fees:£60 twin sharing, £72 single room (includes en suite bedroom, all meals,refreshments and all sessions)

There will be a few bursaries availablefor those in receipt of benefits, pleaseask.

Non-residents are welcome – fee £28

Places are limited and will be con-firmed on receipt of a cheque for therelevant amount

ENQUIRIES AND BOOKINGS:PAMFLYNN@COOPTEL.NET0161 249 0943