What Are We Fighting For?

Upstream /1 IWD: What are we fighting for? en's Year, devoted to changing at a consultation meeting with by Pat Daley And Interval Holise, a home long term funding from local our society's attitudes about for women and their children service clubs and donations from ·the secretary of state's Women's Since its establishment 67 women, and in October 1975 who leave hoine and find them indlviduals through a fundraising ?rogramme in Ottawa March 3-4, years ago, International W om· minister of · health and welfare selves in emergency situations, campaign to be carried out in also said- they are fighting for en's Day has been a day of worn· Marc Lalonde said, "1975 must is just sci'aping by on a $11.35 April. survival. en's protests and demonstrat· not become the 'token' year in per diem for each person who "There's a possibility in some Secretary of State John Rob ions. which women's rights and wom stays there from the regional ways of getting some govern erts explained government fund On March 8, 1908, working en's equality are subjects· of government. ment grants but you have to ing, which, he said, "has to some women in New York marched major debate - a debate that "Vie have been going through come up with something quite extent been put in limbo by the under banners demanding equal might fade into obscurity at somewhat of a financial crisis," intere~ting like statistical re restraint program." pay, child care centres, the right year's end.'' Since that time the says Interval House spokes search. They might pay someone Roberts said, "There is some to vote, and an end to sweatshop government has been working person Glenda MacPherson, "not to do that but that doesn't help advantage to say we are going to working conditions. slowly but surely on reforms in because we have been going over the regular running of the place. help a variety of activities start Two years later, German soci areas like human rights and up, like drilling for oil wells. If alist leader Clara Zatkin called on Canada Pension Plan for home they do, over a period of time, the Second International Social makers. establish their worth, they will ist Congress in Copenhagen to But, a month after Lalonde's crystallize the need for those establish March 8 as Internation statement, Ottawa Women's programs. Then they should be al Working VI omen's Day. De Centre staffer Diana Pepall call i funded on a regular basis; mands at that congress included ed IWY "a snow job.'' She said "It does seem to me that opposition to the impending the government's emphasis on there's a certain sense in saying Vlorld War I, the right to vote attitudinal changes before legis the federal government should and equality with men in the lation made people "feel it is no finance most daycare services. work place. longer a struggle." But if they prove their worth and "These obscure and anxious Two years later, it seems are strong, they should look for women of the poor (ii) New Pepall may have been right; that funding at the local level. The York)," wrote labour organizer 1975 was a "token year.'' federal government may have a Elizabeth Gurley Flynn, "with For, although women now strong role in developing pro shawls and kerchiefs over their have the right to vote, the other jects, but that is not to say tbe heads, with worn clothes and demands of New York's working federal government should sus shabby shoes, did not know they women 69 years ago still stand. tain them. were making history ... This day Daycare facilities are still inade "I can see the advantage to· a became known around the quate and social service cutbacks two level process. The federal world.'' at all levels of government are government can start, then we From 1917- when Russian making the situation worse. say 'look you have proved your working women held a demon Vlomen are doubly-hurt by the success but for sustaining in a stration and strike that helped cuts because oL.the decrease in permanent way, you should look set off the revolution to 1970 jobs in areas which traditionally for funds elsewhere.' That will when Uruguay's Tupamaro ur employ women. VI orking women free funds of ours to start other ban guerillas freed 13 Tupamaro are still living with poor working 'PLEA~,SIR, I WllNT 50/'\E NilRE ~ programs.'' women from prison, March 8 has conditions and '}>OOr wages, most Roberts also expressed a po been used by women around the without the protection of a union. our budget, as much as in the fall "Vie have some people from tential concern for the autonomy world to make their voices As for equal pay, the wage gap we didn't have the house running LIP worlQng there and it's a help of voiuntarY organizations, say heard. between men and women is con- it full capacity.'' The house will because they're doing some ing he hesitates about ~ving too During Vlorld Viar II, many stantly widening. hold about 20 people. things our regular staffers just much government funding. women throughout Europe cele Women's organizations existed "Now things should be getting couldn't do, like programs for the "When you invite the govern brated the day in concentration in Canada before IWY and many better because we have been children. But then, of course, ment in as a funding partner, camps or in exile. have .sprung up since. Even having it pretty full lately. But programs like that al'fays end. they gradually take more and "Even in fascist and colonial those are finding it difficult not we still have a large debt to over You have to find some other way more control because they are countries, ther~ will be manifest only to maintain the services ' come and the budget we are on is of carrying it on or just let it go.'' responsible to the House' of Com atiens in prisons and secretly they provide for women, but to very, very tight," she Said. MacPherson said, "Vie feel mons for policies and expend among people," Elizabeth Gurley continue the organizations them- MacPherson said Interval that we are really filling an itures of money. You are inviting Flynn wrote in 1947. selves. House is looking at incorporating important need. We have to sub in somebody else who says we To many Canadian women, Funding seems to be the big- as a charitable institution which mit a budget soon to the regional have directions and . objectives. that history may seem remote. gest problem now facing worn- means it may be able to get a municipality .and we hope there How do you get the advantage of Spared of the wars and tyran en's groups. In Ottawa, VI omen's larger per diem from the provin will be a slight increase. Vie hope public funding without the bur nical governments, we may ask Career Counselling is undergoing cial government. But, she said, to get some long term funding eaucracy of public control?" what there is to protest on a Canada Manpower review to that also means qiore expenses "from service clubs.'' ' He admitted that "you might International Vlomen's Day. determine if it will survive. This because the province has certain Interval House is not alone in legitimately say that's a bridge The federal government spent newspaper is living hand-to- requirements for the houses. its plight. Representatives of 18 we'll cross when we come to it.'' millions on International Vlom- mouth~ She said they hope to get .more national women's organizations, Roberts also discounted rum ours which arose from an inter nal report on reorganization of the department of secretary. of state, Women's Career Counselling that the government is consider ing dismantling the Women's Programme. But, not all women's grotips Feeling the Squeeze look to the government for mon ey. One member of the Ottawa Outreach project funded by Can problems. They varied from not VICCS puts the women into Women's Centre policy commit ada Manpower, is to be evaluat having the proper skills or edu- support groups and workshops. tee said they are hesitant about ed this month to decide whether cation and not knowing what Their annual budget of $60,000 applying to the government for it lives or dies. Based on ques they wanted to do, to knowing pays the four salaries, maintains funds, "because when the gov tionnaires sent to clients, agen what they wanted to do but not the office, covers rent and phone . ernment gives grants, they try cies and.employers who have had how to go about it because of lack bills, as well as office equipment to make you intO a low-cost social contact with the service: as well of experience and/or lack of rental and photocopying ser service agency, which we're not. as on information gleaned from funds. vices. The staff counsellors earn We are a political organization. the VICCS's quarterly news re Although Canada Manpower less than Canada Manpower "The government funds us be- ports, the Toronto regional office does provide counselling it does counsellors. cause they want to set up a cheap of Canada Manpower will submit not -attempt to answer the spec- How effective has their service orga~tion, to have women do a written report of its findings to ific problems of these women. been? "Manpower weighs su~- the work that the government the local Ottawa manpower pro The VICCS is concerned with cess in terms of placement.

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