A LIVELY discussion took place at the Brussels conference as to a set of common demands that could unite women as part of the overall campaign and take up our specific needs.
The workshop provided a useful forum to exchange experiences and emphasised the need for more work to be done to explain why, within the common offensive against us all, women in different groups of countries are affected in different ways.
For example in France between 52-54 per cent of the unemployed are women and 15.8 per cent of women but 9.5 per cent of men are unemployed.
In Britain on the other hand 7.4 per cent or women but bet per coit of men are jobless. In this sphere it seems that Britain is excopaonal within the European Union.
Undoubtedly these disparate patterns are a result of the distinct patterns of work and or women employment going back many decades - but more information would back.
The workshop focused around a number of key themes which could play a unifying role - while recog nising that in particular countries cach would be given different emphases or expansion.
The demand for a reduction in the working week with no loss of pay must be accompanied by an increase in social spending for the provision of child care etc so that women are not pushed into the The need for free public services - transport, child care provision including after school activities, Equal pay - this being especially important where unemployment benefit is based on wage levels.
Full time rights for part time workers - opposition to the intro duction of part time work wacre • this has the effect of driving down conclus, Rights for and autonomy within their communities of immictant and black women.
A brother from Norway ex. plained that the Norwegian mand for a reduction in the work. ing day - to 6 hours - rather than a reduction in the working week.
This is because large numbers of women currently work 6 hour days but because unemployment benefit is linked to wages then suffer when they are out of paid work.
Catherine from Denmark explained that women in Nordic countries have been more sceptical than their male counterparts about the European Union.
One reason for this is the fact that in most countries of the European union social insurance is linked to having a job and sometimes a full-time job. Women who are married to a man who is working gain insurance this way.
This leaves single women, women who work part ate or un der the counter particularly vulnerable. In Scandinavia there has been a universal welfare policy which does not discriminate against women in this way.
The European Commission has launched a major campaign change women's minds. Not only have they tried to use the record of the European Court, in which women have won some important victories, but also have argued that Nordic women are being selfish in not helping their more oppressed sisters in the south of buroper Much debate took place as to how the campaign should relate to black and immigrant women. This discussion particularly reflected the different experiences of self-organisation throughout the continent. There was concern that we should not be seen to impose cultural acmon» on women from very different traholes Women delegates are determined to keep profile high in campaign Women from France explained how women had been organising separately within the "Sans papiers' campaign and sisters from Britain talked of the need to take up the cases of women facing deportation who had also be subject to domestic Participation in the workshop certainly stimulated from Britain who attended to begin to make more concrete plans for ensuring that our profile as women and our demands are given prominence within the campaign here.
BORO