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To coincide with International Women's Day the Northern TUC's Women's Group and Northern Public Services Alliance are holding a meeting on Thursday 8th March at Newcastle Civic Centre between 5.30pm and 7.00pmto discuss the disproportionate effects the Government's cuts are having on women both nationally and locally, and to launch the national TUC's ‘Women and the cuts Toolkit'.
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date: 7th March 2012

embargo: 00:01 Thursday 8th March

To coincide with International Women's Day the Northern TUC's Women's Group and Northern Public Services Alliance are holding a meeting on Thursday 8th March at Newcastle Civic Centre between 5.30pm and 7.00pmto discuss the disproportionate effects the Government's cuts are having on women both nationally and locally, and to launch the national TUC's 'Women and the cuts Toolkit'.

The unfairness of the government's attacks on the public sector has been widely recognised, not just by the trade union movement, but by much of the national press, the NGO and charity sector, community groups, religious organisations, many academics and a range of think tanks.

On an almost daily basis, the government announces new policies that will have a negative impact on women. The abolition of the Women's National Commission, cut backs and a review of the functions of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, and cuts to legal aid are just a few examples of recent government announcements, before and since the CSR, which will have had a direct, negative impact on women.

Attendees at the meeting will get the chance to discuss a programme of work to highlight the continuing impact of austerity on women and how this can be addresses, along with hearing from some inspiring regional women who are striving to make a difference, and campaigning hard to keep equality as a right and not a privilege.

Speakers include Catherine McKinnell, MP for Newcastle North, Sally Young, Chief Executive of Newcastle Council for Voluntary Service and Clare Williams, Chair of Northern TUC's Women's Group.

  • Clare Williams, Chair of both the Women's Group and Public Services Alliance said: 'This meeting aims to give women from all over the region the opportunity to come together, have their say and fight back against the unfair, unmitigated and unnecessary cuts that are plunging women back into unemployment, poverty and second class citizenship.'
  • Sally Young, Chief Executive of Newcastle City Council for Voluntary Service said: 'Our research launched today, shows that local women's organisations are facing an uncertain future, at a time when demand is increasing. It highlights there is a definite and growing need for women only space and women only services.'

NOTES TO EDITORS:

- The labour market statistics for September 2011 revealed that:

  • Unemployment amongst North east women is at its highest since records began.
  • The number of women claiming Job Seeker's Allowance is at its highest level since 1996.
  • Women now make up 33.9% of JSA claimants - the highest proportion since the data series began in 1983.
  • The number of women made redundant increased 72.3% on the previous quarter.
  • 295,000 women have been unemployed for over 12 months, the highest level since Sep - Nov 1994
  • 120,000 women have been unemployed for over 24 months, the highest since 1996.
  • 701,000 women in involuntary part-time work are the highest figures since 1992.
  • There are 1,347,000 women who are economically inactive who said they wanted jobs, an increase of 49,000 - the largest increase since 1992.

- For details of the March 10th Public Services Alliance March and rally click here: http://www.tuc.org.uk/tucfiles/238/LIBDEM%20A4.pdf

- Northern TUC press releases www.tuc.org.uk/northern national releases www.tuc.org.uk and www.twitter.com/tucnews

- Register for the TUC's press extranet: a service exclusive to journalists wanting to access pre-embargo releases and reports www.tuc.org.uk/pressextranet

- For TUC advice and information on the world of work www.workSMART.org.uk

Media contacts:

Clare Williams, Chair of Northern TUC Women's Group T: 07801 743 444

Kevin Rowan, Northern TUC Regional Secretary T: 0191 227 5565; M: 07766250074; E: krowan@tuc.org.uk

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