Direct Action to Smash Corrie
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DIRECT ACTION TO SMASH CORRIES
The extent of the opposition to Corrie may well frighten the bill's supporters into agreeing to various amendments. However, our aim should be the total defeat of the bill and the building of a working class campaign for abortion on demand,conmected to the wider struggles against the cuts and unemployment, in defence of women's rights and of trade
union organisation,
These aims mean that Corrie must be fought by Direct Action. This should not mean isolated and ineffectual stunts but industrial action: strikes, stoppages, protest meetings in work time. The power to defend and extend the rights of working class women lies in the workplaces, This means that women workers - including those not normally involved in trade union or political activity - must be brought to the forefront
of the campaign.
So far, the campaign to defeat Corrie has made only limited headway in factories,in union branches outside the white collar unions and shop stewards committees. But it is there that we must build in the coming months to win committment for action if Corrie's bill reaches its third reading,
We must demand of the TUC and the leaders of those unions committed to defeating the bill, that they call for strike action to defeat Corrie. But we should not wait for the reluctant leaders who prefer passive protest. We must build for action by campaigning in trades councils, union branches, through local delegate committees and conferences, in rank and file groupings and womens caucuses in the
unions, with factory leaflets and factory gate meetings.
Industrial action to defeat the Corrie bill would not only scare the government and the employers, warning them that working women will not allow the dismantling of their hard won rights. It would also be an important step in ensuring that the interests of working class. women are seen as the interests of the whole working class - and are taken up in every part of the Struggle against ruling class attacks in the coming period.