#IWD2012: Frances O'Grady's speech

Solidarity with women workers

Women and austerity: impact and resistance

8 March 2012

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Tonight is of course a special occasion for women, but for women in the trade union movement in particular, because it was women workers that the original International Women's Day was held for, a hundred and one years ago.

Next week, Congress House will be the venue for this year's TUC Women's Conference, and as you would expect, there will be a lot of discussion about the impact on women workers of the current Government's unfair and misguided attack on the welfare state. And last night we had a fantastic rally in Central Hall to defend the NHS.

Our conference will also discuss the continuing failure to provide women workers with equal pay, and the impact of the cuts on vital services such as women's refuges.

But there will be an international flavour too, and that's what we'll be talking about tonight. Later this evening, Bernadette Segol, the General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation, will talk to us about the impact of austerity on women all over Europe.

Dorothy Matebeni, President of the South African nurses union DENOSA, who have a full contingent here tonight and were such a brilliant part of last night's rally, will talk to us about the problems facing women in her union. Thanks to Unison for arranging for DENOSA to be with us tonight.

And then, because it wouldn't be a trade union night out without a positive message of hope, Vicky Phillips from Thompsons - who have helped us put tonight on - will tell us about the extraordinary delegation to Colombia that we've just last week been on, and the fantastic news at the end of the week that Liliany Obando had been freed from jail.

Before we hear again from Surianne and David though, I wanted to read you some of the messages we've received from trade unionists around the world.

The Canadian Labour Congress said:

'On this International Women's Day, Canada's labour movement will continue to break down the barriers to women's equality in the workplace and in society. We will fight for fair contracts for our members and for better labour standards for all workers. We will push for provisions that help women balance work and family life, like flexible work schedules, job-sharing, and family emergency leave. We will stand against austerity measures and cuts to public services, an important source of good jobs for women. We will take on corporate greed and advocate a clear vision for a Canada that works for everyone.'

Women workers in the Greek trade union movement sent us this message:

'We face neo-liberal carpet-bombing which is destroying families, increasing domestic violence and affecting women workers especially. Raise awareness of what is happening in Greece, and beware because it could happen in your country next!'

In Palestine, our sisters in the PGFTU, who we are helping to organise through the newly established women's officer post, say this:

'The main issues facing women in Palestine are health and safety, childcare, the gender pay gap and the absence of women in decision making structures. There is also the problem of the laws which are not enforced and the clearly insufficient number of labour inspectors. And you can add of course the problem of the occupation and settlements which restrict the movement of Palestinian women and affect the production of the women in rural areas and who depend totally on agriculture as an income.'

The women's committee of the Federation of Trade Unions in Burma reminded us of the struggle of women like Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, and added:

'There are many heroic women fighting for the cause of the country and for the mass of women and families. To those women of the world who are fighting hard for their rights, we honour and welcome your struggle.'

And our sisters in Zimbabwe, where the ZCTU women's committee is twinned with the TUC Women's Committee, sent us this message:

'We will always cherish and value the support and solidarity from the TUC. As ZCTU, we pledge total support for the working women in the UK, as they demand ratification of the convention on the elimination of violence against women. It is our desire that our two organisations organise programmes to cement and let our twinning relationship grow.

'We wish the working women in the United Kingdom a successful and fruitful commemoration of International Women's Day 2012. Forward with the demands of the working women in the UK! Solidarity forever!'

Sisters, it's time to hand back to our entertainment for the evening, and I'll be back to introduce our guests later on this evening. Enjoy!