Reclaiming health and safety

Earlier this year, new research by the Ministry of Justice, Home Office and the Office for National Statistics report that in England and Wales there are an estimated 85,000 rapes every year.  Each year an estimated 400,000 women are sexually assaulted and 1 in 5 women (16-59) has experienced some form of sexual violence since the age of 16. When Reclaim the Night marches were first started in the 1970s, women were appalled that only 1 in 3 rapists were ever convicted; today that figure is 1 in 30.

This is why the Northern TUC (in conjunction with our Women’s Group) revived the tradition of Reclaim the Night four years ago.  Our annual events aim to bring together regional women – and men - with their counterparts around the world to mark the United Nations International Day to End Violence Against Women.

On Saturday evening, women from across the North East came together as part of the region's Reclaim the Night event in Newcastle, hosted by the Northern TUC.

Attendees assembled at Old Eldon Square and marched to the Haymarket, led by the Bangshees, a community-based all-women drumming group.   The marchers heard from Clare Williams, Chair of the Northern TUC Women’s Group and Vera Baird QC, Police and Crime Commissioner for Northumbria as well as Martine Dellard of North East Feminist Gathering.

It was also the one year anniversary of the Tazreen Fashions factory fire on 24^th November. So, the night was also an opportunity to remember those who died in Bangladesh during the Fire, where 112 workers were killed and 150 seriously injured - the majority of whom were women, aged between 15 and 17.

In Bangladesh at present, there are 5,000 garment factories with 3.6 million workers, 85% of them women. They provide 79% of the country’s total exports. But they are paid a minimum wage of just £24 a month. Even skilled sewing machine operators only get between £32 to £42 a month. With approximately 85% of Bangladesh garment industry being female their value and safety in the workplace are also major concerns.

Also in Bangladesh, more than 100 of the workers injured in the Rana Plaza building collapse are still in hospital. More than 500 children between 3 months and 8 years have lost a parent. Nearly 1,400 injury victims were discharged from hospital but need more treatment. There are 1,133 families mourning a dead relative. And 1,500 injured workers waiting for compensation.

At the back-end of last week, days before planned coordinated action and campaigning were due to commence, retailer Edinburgh Wooleen Mill (EWM), (which also owns high street chains Peacocks and Jane Norman), joined another 114 companies and signed the union-backed Bangladesh fire and building safety accord.

It is vital that trade unions raise our collective voice in unity and solidarity; united for an end to abuse and exploitation of all kinds and solidarity in providing safety, better conditions, a better life and a better society for everyone.

Beth Farhat, Northern TUC Regional Secretary