PCS members in action, photo Paul Mattsson

PCS members in action, photo Paul Mattsson   (Click to enlarge: opens in new window)

Helen Pattison, East London Socialist Party

The Women’s Lives Matter campaign, which fights cuts to women’s services, was invited to speak at the annual general meeting of the East London Metropolitan Police branch of civil servants’ union PCS, representing civilian staff.

Their members work with people escaping domestic violence. They can see austerity and government policy have put women in a worse position.

I spoke about cuts to domestic violence services in Newham. The borough has the highest level of homelessness in London, and one refuge turned away 46 women in a year.

It definitely clicked with union members. One member linked it to the roll-out of Universal Credit, which increases the power of abusers to exert financial control over partners with just one payment per household.

A PCS member will address the next Women’s Lives Matter protest organised by East London Socialist Party. Friday 8 March at 6.30pm, outside the Old Town Hall, 29 The Broadway, Stratford E15 4BQ.