STRIKES AROUND THE WORLD
THE FORD DAGENHAM WOMEN'S STRIKE AND THE EQUAL PAY ACT
THE FORD DAGENHAM WOMEN'S STRIKE AND THE EQUAL PAY ACT
"The dignity of women’s equality when they meet in government, professional and industrial work is "This dispute's got nothing to do with what skill level you are. Ford decided to give you less money because they can. They're allowed to pay women a lower wage than men. All over the country women are getting less because they're women. You'll always come second. You'll always be fighting over the scraps from the top table...." "In June 1968 women sewing machinists in the Ford car plant in Dagenham took a stand for equal pay in a strike that stopped production for three weeks. They succeeded in getting abolished their lower “women’s rate” of pay and precipitated wider action: there were other equal pay strikes that year and the National Joint Action Campaign Committee for Women’s Equal Rights (NJACCWER) was formed by women trade unionists, who organised a demonstration for equal pay in 1969. Without the Ford women, there would have been no Equal Pay Act of 1970." |
The Dagenham Women's Strike took place in England in 1968. Female workers were furious because they were being paid less than male workers, even though in many cases they worked harder and for longer hours. The Dagenham Women's Strike paved the way for the Equal Pay Act of 1970.
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"There can be no doubt that this afternoon we are witnessing another historic advance in the struggle against discrimination in our society, this time against discrimination on grounds of sex. In introducing the Bill, I hope that there will be no difference between the two sides of the House about the principle. The only difference is that the present Government have had the will to act."
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The United Kingdom's Equal Pay Act was a historic piece of legislation that granted women the same rights as men in the workplace; it ensured that women and men would receive the same wages for the same work.
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