The gender pay gap in the UK stands at 19.7 per cent. This means that today women in this country will stop earning anything in relation to men for the rest of the year, and the gender pay gap is widening. Last week, research by the World Economic Forum found the UK has slipped from 18th to 26th in the rankings of its annual Global Gender Gap Report. If you add that, since the start of the recession in 2008, more than 820,000 more women have moved into low paid, insecure jobs, it is clear that we need tougher action to promote equality and push women into more secure work.
I am delighted that, before the end of the year, Labour will demand a vote in Parliament calling for transparency on pay for companies with 250 or more employees.
Fiona Twycross AM is hosting an event on equal pay this evening from 6.30 – 8.30 pm at City Hall – details here if you wish to join.
Migrant rescue operations
Many of you will know that last week the government announced its refusal to take part in future migrant rescue operations in the Mediterranean Sea. A Home Office minister claimed that the ending of the current effort was essential because it was encouraging more migrants to make the journey and leading to further deaths.
I really believe that this justification is absolute nonsense. It is like saying that we won’t support victims of loan sharks so people will stop using them.
When I was a politician in Italy, I witnessed the desperation of migrants who survived those journeys – they often have no other choice but to save money for a perilous escape from hunger, deprivation and violation of their human rights. The challenge is to tackle the problem at its root by working with other countries – the answer is not to leave desperate people, including women and children, to drown in the sea.
#backthebill – November 21
On the 21st of November, MPs will vote on a private member’s bill aimed at halting the spread of privatisation across the NHS. Clive Efford’s bill would scrap the worst parts of the Government’s Health and Social Care Act of 2012. You can sign the Labour party petition here and the Government e-petition here. Other materials available at www.loveournhs.com. The next big action day is on Saturday 15 November – just a few days before the vote.
Finally, I am delighted to invite you to the event below, promoted by the London Socialist Health Association – which you are warmly invited to join.
The future for London’s NHS, Monday 17 November from 17:45 in the Nelson Room, Portcullis House, House of Commons. Speakers will include Clare Gerada, Andy Slaughter MP, Onkar Sahota AM and Liam Islam – Young Mayor of Lewisham. The aim is to build on the three documents below and discuss the future design of healthcare in London, and how this can fit in our campaigns and also feed back to the shadow health team. The documents are:
The NHS Five Year Forward View
http://www.england.nhs.uk/ourwork/futurenhs/
London Health Commission, Better Health for London
http://www.londonhealthcommission.org.uk/better-health-for-london/
People’s Inquiry into London’s NHS, London’s NHS at the Crossroads
http://www.peoplesinquiry.org.uk/
Winning with and for women – London Labour biannual conference
If you can, please help organise the FWN breakout session at London Labour biannual conference on Sunday 30 November on how we win with women and for women.
The workshop will also look at how we can launch a London-wide campaign on issues that matter to women in the run up to the general election. MPs including Seema Malhotra and Diane Abbott will be joining us, and so will our Hornsey and Wood Green PPC Catherine West, Alisoon Moore, Leader of the Barnet Labour group and Linda Perks, chair of London Unison. If you are a women’s officer in your CLP or an elected representative, and you would like to help, please get in touch with me ASAP.