Mother and child 're-union' on women's committee

In one of those quirks that journalists love, the Scottish Women's Committee now has an unusual double act in their ranks. Davena Rankin (Secretary Glasgow Caledonian University branch) has been joined on the Committee, by her mother, Elizabeth!

Davena said, "My mother is the person who most encouraged me to become involved in the union. She herself has been a member since 1978 (originally in COHSE). She has been a steward since 1993.

"She is also going to be attending the National Women's Conference as one of the Scottish reps and I will be on the Platform in my first conference as a member of the National Women's Committee."

Womens Conference

Other important work done at the Scottish Women's Conference earlier this month included: A motion highlighting the shockingly low conviction rate for rape and calling on the Scottish Women's Committee to campaign to support the current review of the law on rape.

A motion highlighting the fact that throughout the world one woman will die every minute because of complications relating to pregnancy and childbirth (roughly 529,000 women every year ~ 10 million women every generation). The motion calls on the UK and Scottish women's committees to highlight the plight of women whose lives could be saved for as little as £1.50 per person.

The motion also highlights the need for a publicly funded and fully functioning health service. Motions were also agreed for submission to the STUC Women's Conference.

One calling for a campaign to ensure that any government single equalities act embeds the best of all the existing equalities legislation and one calling for training, childcare and flexible working opportunities to allow lone parents to get into work and out of poverty.

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