Women’s liberation

Roll up, roll up for the Sexism Olympics
Medals to be won!
It's not about your skill or fitness
But your husband or your son!

RMT News April 2016 issue (page 26) includes a report on TUC Women's Conference; Janine was part of the union's delegation

Concealer hides the redness and the bruises
Long sleeves disguise the marks along her arm
A bangle covers twisted wrist contusions
A bandage shields her fractured thumb from harm
Dark glasses screen her puffy eyes and tears
Uncertain smile conceals the broken tooth
The scent he bought her drowns the smell of fear
A well-told story masks the brutal truth
The curtains shut out busybody neighbours
Just punching her emotions leaves no mark
His patronage buys sympathy and favours
Control her movements, keep her in the dark
- His hand across her mouth ensures her silence
- His public image veils his private violence

I am a railway woman, love my job
I take you there and back, I take your fare
Sometimes behind the scenes, sometimes you’ll see me
I fix the track or operate the signal
I clean the station, guard or drive the train
And when you need me, here I am to help.

INTRODUCTION/CONTEXT

• The opening address stressed the importance of women workers organising in a male-dominated industry and the context of women's struggles in a time of austerity and terrorism.
• There was a minute’s silence for the victims of terror attacks.
• ATU (Romanian union federation) President expressed his support for women's representation in trade unions, describing this as a hard-fought battle that was yet to be fully won.
• Summary of ETF Women’s work over last few years: training, campaigns, organising women transport workers.

What is working life like for women (and men) on the Bucharest Metro? How does it compare to our situation on London Underground? In Bucharest with the ETF Women's Committee, I spoke with Metro workers and gathered some facts …

WHAT IS THE ETF?

The European Transport Workers’ Federation, linking transport trade unions across Europe. RMT is one of several UK affiliates.

Its Women’s Committee includes nominees from various countries and sectors. I am a member of the Committee for the term 2013-2017.

PRIORITY CAMPAIGN 1 – VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN TRANSPORT WORKERS

Reclaim its real name
It is International
Working Women's Day

Let’s celebrate with
Words of wit and wisdom from
Inspiring women

"Freedom is always
The freedom of dissenters"
Rosa Luxemburg

"I had crossed the line
I was free but a stranger"
Harriet Tubman

Not all suffragettes
Followed the same politics
Even the Pankhursts

Notes from the introduction to a workshop on 'What do we mean by socialist feminism?' at Workers' Liberty Women's 'All The Rage' event on 28 February 2015.

1. Key ideas:

The house is getting dirty, she can't face it
The vacuum cleaner's burnt out, lying dead
She knows she'll have to save up to replace it
She wants a life of roses not just bread
And sucking up the dust from crusty carpets
Is never going to give her quite the pleasure
Of thumbing dusty pages at the markets
To clear the cranial cobwebs finding treasure