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On February 26th, 2.000 pcople attended a rally in Alexandra Palace. London to assess the Sex Discrimination and Equal Pay Acts, one year aftor they became law.
Women who had taken cases of discrimination to the Tribunals set up under these Acts, described neir frustrations with the limitations and loopholes of the Acts. The many stalls, as well as speakers from campaigns and organisations fighting for women's rights pointed to the numerous areas in which women are discriminated against which the Acts do not cover at all nursery provision, abortion, hospital facilities for women, educational opportunities, social security and taxation. battered women, rape, racism, employment, low pay ctc.
The lessons to be drawn from the experience of these Acts in opcration was clearly brought out at the Rally, and demonstrated in action by the victory of the Trico women in West Lond, who won equal pay despite the contrary decision of the Tribunal: women themselves have to organise to defend and extend their rights.
Speakers from the Gunwick Strike Committee, Personna, the EGA Hospital Campaign Committee and Trico emphasised this, and, along with other speakers (and Broadside Theatre's plays), pointed to the obstacles to be overcome in forcing male trade unionists to seriously take up questions of women's rights,
RALLY FOR WOMEN'S RIGHTS Alexandra Palace, London - 26 February 1977,