78th WTUC conference, eastbourne, 11th-14th march 2008
This year’s conference Chaired by Sister Lorene Fabian of Unite (Amicus section) entitled ‘Abortion Rights’ showcased the need to protect a woman’s right to choose, approaching the 40th anniversary of the Abortion Act and hi-lighting the dangers potentially concealed within the passage of the Human fertilisation and embryology bill through parliament.
271 delegates, 55 visitors, 11 trades councils and 24 exhibitors gathered to debate the wide and varied order paper (available on the TUC website in full) containing 41 motions, 3 emergency international motions and 5 Composite motions.
The two motions taken forward from the FBU on the issues of Childcare and Women in Afghanistan were both carried unanimously by conference and the FBU EC member got re-elected to the TUC Women’s Committee for the next Congress year.
The motion voted to go forward to Congress in September on behalf of the TUC Women’s conference shall be ‘Abortion Rights’ Composite motion 3, to be moved by the PCS union.
The Rt Hon Harriet Harman, secretary of state for Equalities and TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber both addressed conference during the week. Fringe meetings were attended by FBU delegates on the issues of The Charter for Women, The Morning Star and Pensions. And an International Women’s day Rally was held on the Wednesday night of conference week bringing together the main focus of international women’s rights, workers rights and trade union freedoms.
It should be noted that due to the constant combined pressure of the FBU and TUC women’s committee at General Council level and congress itself- it has been agreed by the GC and Executive Committee that childcare facilities be extended to include fringe meetings and TUC events on a shared cost basis between TUC and Affiliates. Although this is progress, there is still much work to be done on this issue to meet the original demands of the 2007 FBU motion to congress.
Thanks were expressed to the FBU from Dr Shatha Beserati, (our FBU Women’s school speaker this year) of the Iraqi Women’s League for an FBU bucket collection held at Conference, achieving £613 for IWL. Shatha’s contribution to the conference hi-lighting the plight of Iraqi women and children was shocking, yet motivational and asked affiliated unions to consider supporting the organisation in whatever manner it can.
Finally, our Sister trade unionists from New South Wales and Tasmania Fire departments who were present at our FBU Women’s School accompanied us to Eastbourne as conference visitors and received a warm welcome from all in attendance. They conveyed their gratitude for all the Support the FBU have given and welcomed exposure to trade union issues facing women both here and abroad.
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Fire Brigades Union
Bradley House, 68 Coombe Road, Kingston upon Thames, Surrey, KT2 7AE
Published by Fire Brigades Union National Women's Committee