1995 TOGET * domestic violence, child abuse and protection, women's expertences in the criminal and family *fair trade, internationalism NATHE has submitted an important resolution opposing the adopted by both major parties, and the repercussions this could have for women workers, and also les. bian and disabled women.
Single mothers
The resolution opposes policies which attack single mothers, assert the superiority of the heterosexual monogamous nuclear family at the expense of all other alternatives, and undermine women's rights to full-time paid employment.
It stresses the need to campaign tion and after school provision, the impiementation of & Ov poncy ou carers, to resist attacks on aborton rights; and to campaign to simplify, strengthen and extend equality legislation and to outlaw discrimination against women on grounds of their sexual orientation.
There are also resolutions on the welfare state and education, but what is lacking so far is an understanding that if we are to be able to defend and extend the welfare state, we need to develop a different line than that of the TUC lead. ership towards Maastricht and the single currency - acceptance of the Maastricht process and the conver. gcnec chicha for toc stagic cur rency means acceptance of cuts in the welfare state.
The Women's Committee report to Women's Conference mentions a 1996 resolution noting the increasing dependence on casual, temporary and freclance contracts. Is all the campaigning and struggle about to pay off?. currenay nound us are themserve: CLOVIS As a result of years of campaignling inside and outside the trade unwidespread support for lesbian and gay equality as an elementary hu man right.
This support has now even perIt also states that the TUC has made job insecurity and employment rights oriority issues for campaigning, and highlights the 1996 TUC labour market report Women on the Edge.
The TUC's document on how to bership and encourage women to be active stresses the importance of campaigning around issues relevant to women, e.g. defence of hospitals and other social services, and opposition to closures.
Yet the current TUC Ieadership has opposed the European Marches, and supported the Maastricht process and the moves towards a single curThe Europe of the bosses is imposing huge cuts in welfare and job losses, with a damaging impact on women's lives. Weichains women workers' rights means opposing the offensive of the capitalist class. meated the ranks of Labour MPs. Old and New Lebour can agree on opposing prejudice. pok staws public com mitments offer a prospect of winning real and vital legal reforms in the next period.
But the extent of change will depeno on contnued campaigning trom all supporters of equality.