represented in numbers but there was also a significant number of men trade-unionists as well as revolutionary socialists — all species.
There was a march from Temple tube to Square. The sight of this far from Trafalgar typical demonstration aroused considerable drenched figures stood resolutely canopy of umbrellas listening to the speakers, who included Agnes McLean, AEF shop steward from Glasgow, Rose Boland from COLES. USDAW, Ernie Roberts and Fred Blake from Christine Page, Audrey Wise from equal pay. AEF, USDAW, SOGAT, NUUB were on the plinth. The speakers banners stressed how half of the women employed are should not be defined as equal pay at the expense of male workers. She said "we're not asking for a share in the exploitation of the are asking for it from the shareholders."
bluntly.
BARBARA GETS HERS WHY NOT US?
and GONE IS THE VICTORIAN AGE WHEN WOMEN USED TO PLAY NOW WE'RE WORKING BLOODY HARD SO GIVE US EQUAL PAY.
A woman from the Post Office Engineers in Enfield held up scribbled it down.
Pottery workers from Stoke on Trent carried EQUAL PAY NOW WE MAKE MUGS. BUT WE ARE NOT MUGS.
They told us it was the first demonstration women would have come but they were a bit they'd ever been on. They thought more nervous demonstrating. things about what goes on at them". They'd "You hear such funny been to conferences before. If it was possible to get enough women involved, and the men saw they had a strong movement, they felt sure they'd stand by them. Part of the problem was that women often found it difficult to speak up at union meetings. They'd formed women's advisory groups in their lodge which met as well a. general lodge meetings within the National Society of Pottery Workers. This helped women to work out their problems at work and put a case to the men in the union. Transport kers stressed the importance of the men's support and referred to the hostility of some of their men over the issue of women drivers.
Rose Greenford said they were now putting have to wait five years. They thought they'd be able tp get this through.
The odd hostile man popped up but was instantly denounced and upbraided from all sides. One scornful bespectacled man suddenly became the centre of an angry group of very small young WUCH who prodded him indignantly and were supported by a grea nountain of a man with a red face and black beret. The bespectacled man became most embarrased and obviously regretted having created the confrontation. WE WORK FOR YOU. YOU LIVE OFF US' shouted the girls. His knees were visibly knocking. "Sock it to him" said a young policeman watching with delight.
policewoman, asked whether she had equal pay. refused CONSCI But two policemen said poetent mind workedors hours.
did a different kind of work which couldn't be compared. Policemen should get danger money. Dwarfs offered solidarity for police demo.
Everyone I talked to felt this was only the The movement for EQUAL PAY beginning.
NOW is going to get bigger, noisier and more determined. And it's not just about equal pay.
You can't challenge the economic subordination of women without immediately highlighting the total secondary social position.
Something is stirring.
Something which has been silent for a long time.
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interest amongst on-lookers not only because it was headed by a pipe-band but because of the predominance of women. In Trafalgar Square
the AEF and NUUB were there too to extend solidarity to the women in the struggle for
getting less than 5s an hour, how there are 4 million women getting less than £10 a week. Agnes McLean made the important point for socialists on equal pay when she stated that it
Some of the slogans women had improvised on the official NJACC placards put it more
WE WANT A CHANCE TO PROVE WE CAN DO THE WORK OF ANY MAN. own work", she commented as I
the demand of equal sick pay. For a man this is granted after he's worked for a year. Women