Coalition upholds "women and children first" - for
cuts
14 September 2010
Working mums, pregnant workers and carers are paying heaviest
for the Coalition government's cuts strategy with inequalities sure
to rise, Diana Holland, Unite assistant general secretary will warn
today (Tuesday) and TUC Congress in Manchester.
Pointing to the £6 billion of cuts and tax changes that will
come from women, compared to £2 billion from men, Diana Holland
will say:
"The Coalition is taking the traditional message "women and
children first" to new and nasty lengths. Under this
government, support services for women and kids are first to be
targeted, first to be threatened and first to be cut.
"This is not totally surprising given that this is a cabinet
with 11 times as many millionaires as it has mothers.
"No wonder they believe taking from others is a price worth
paying."
In the year which marks the centenary of the birth of Barbara
Castle, architect of the equal pay act, and a century on from the
chainmakers strike which won those women workers a minimum wage,
Diana Holland will call for action to defend what working women
have achieved:
"We must oppose these cuts and attacks or we
will fail to keep moving forward on equality," she will say.
Diana Holland will be seconding motion 11 in the debate on a
workplace agenda for women.
ENDS
For more information, please call Pauline Doyle on 07976 832
861
Notes: Diana Holland is standing for election as Labour party
treasurer.
