"Women are getting the worst of the recession"

29 October 2009

Women are getting the worst of the recession - while men are making most of the decisions about dealing with it, a mini-conference in Manchester on Saturday will hear (1).

The public meeting on "Women, Work and the Recession" has been organised by the Green Party's women's group.

Gayle O'Donovan, a member of the group, and the Green parliamentary candidate for Manchester Central, said today:

"The discussion around the recession has tended to be led by men, not least bankers and the politicians who tend to take their lead from bankers. Government response to the recession has prioritised male-dominated sectors, like the car industry. Sectors dominated by women, like retail and caring, are being neglected."

Rachel English, coordinator of Women Working Worldwide, will discuss issues affecting workers in East Africa who grow fruit and vegetables for the UK market.

And Sue Bond, national vice-president of the PCS Union, will talk about campaigns to stop cuts at the Equalities and Human Rights Commission and the British Council.

Sue Bond said today:

"Women workers should not have to pay for an economic crisis which is not of their making. PCS is appalled that all three mainstream parties support cuts in public spending in response to the recession, at a time when public services are needed more than ever, particularly when it is women who stand to suffer most from cuts in welfare and public service delivery."

Notes to Editors

1. The public meeting will be on Saturday 31st October, from 1600 to 1800 at the Manchester Environment Resource Centre, Bridge 5 Mill, 22a Beswick Street, Manchester, M4 7HR. Click here for a map to the venue.

 

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