CWU women vote for political review

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The Communication Workers Union (CWU) annual women's conference took place on 20 February. Delegates discussed the impact of the economic crisis on working class women, their jobs and their work-life balance.

Conference overwhelmingly voted for a motion calling for the public ownership of telecommunications, for the nationalisation of the banks and companies threatening mass redundancies and for the repeal of the anti union laws.

The resolution also called for a review of the union's support for any political party that pursues policies that are in contradiction to those of the CWU. The mover pointed out that the CWU pays millions to the Labour Party and then has to spend millions more in campaigning against key policies that attack the membership, such as the attempts to privatise Royal Mail.

Motions on flexible working were carried, confirming the need to fight to defend family friendly attendance arrangements.

The issue of domestic violence was widely debated, along with a motion criticising the Home Office for withdrawing funding from the police human trafficking unit. The pressure on young women from the media and advertising was raised with a motion calling for a campaign for legislation to end the airbrushing of images. This was narrowly defeated.

Pension changes were highlighted, with a call for a campaign to make women members of the CWU aware of the impact of the change to the state pension age for women.

Judy Griffiths