WTUC Eastbourne 8 th – 10 th March 2006

Delegation:

Ruth Winters

Vicky Knight

Dona Feltham

Kerry Baigent

Staci Leach

Patsy Griffiths

Emma Gibby

Emma Carr


The following resolutions were passed by Conference. Childcare was the substantive motion and Abortion rights was an emergency motion.

1. Childcare – FBU motion

This Conference acknowledges that a lack of Childcare provision is one of the many barriers to women’s active involvement within the Trade Union movement.

This Conference demands that the TUC Women’s Committee in conjunction with the General Council ensure that childcare provision forms an integral part of the planning and organization of any Conference, school, course and/or seminar which is being run by the TUC

This would not only reassure women member and officials by providing some continuity and familiarity of carers but would also facilitate late substitution to attend those events when necessary.

Abortion Rights – FBU emergency motion

This Conference is appalled by the current anti-choice campaign in the UK which is calling on the Government to reduce the current legal time limits for a woman to have an abortion down to 20 weeks. This Conference believes that the US aligned right wing anti-choice campaigners are using this particular point as a smoke screen in order to gain sympathy amongst the British people and then make further attacks on a woman’s right to choose.

This Conference calls upon the TUC Women’s committee and wider trade union movement to:
           

• Reassert its support of a woman’s right to choose.
• Campaign to correct the prevalent false impression that pregnancy termination is easily accessible.
• Urge the UK Government to provide all women with access to free, safe abortion services at the earliest possible time and not further restrict a woman’s right to access abortion.
• Vigorously oppose any reduction in the time limits for abortion in order to preserve a woman’s rights to choose.

FBU speeches covered:
            Ruth Winters - Abortion Rights
            Vicky Knight – Women and the local Government Scheme and equality seats
            Kerry Baigent – Pregnancy Discrimination
            Dona Feltham – Abortion Rights and feminism of migrant workers
            Patsy Griffith – Supporting parents and carers
            Staci Leach – Childcare
            Emma Carr – International Womens day
            Emma Gibby – Bullying at work

The FBU also hosted the Charter for Women fringe meeting, which was a great success.

Ruth Winters spoke at the Abortion Rights fringe meeting.

© Fire Brigades Union
Bradley House, 68 Coombe Road, Kingston upon Thames, Surrey, KT2 7AE
Published by Fire Brigades Union National Women's Committee