labor news

Doug Henwood dhenwood at panix.com
Wed Mar 8 11:47:20 PST 2000


<http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/uk/newsid_669000/669747.stm>

Wednesday, 8 March, 2000, 18:25 GMT Sex workers join global strike

The sex workers' strike is part of a global day of action

Prostitutes in one of London's infamous red light districts are going on strike as part of a global women's day of action.

Soho sex workers are joining the Global Women's Strike on Wednesday which will see women in more than 50 countries stop work to protest against inequality and violence.

Protest organisers say that while $700bn a year is spent on military budgets worldwide, only a tiny fraction is spent on the essentials of life: clean water, health, sanitation and basic education.

The global strike is calling on governments to end to slave labour, low pay, to protect women from violence inside and outside the home and to create a millennium which "values all women's work and all women's lives".

Prostitutes 'face eviction'

Women prostitutes in Soho are demanding an end to what they say are Westminster Council's attempts to evict working girls.

They say the council is threatening landlords with compulsory purchasing of their properties, forcing prostitutes onto the streets.

Legal Action for Women has accused the council of illegality and breach of Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights.

The strike's website contains the protest's strike song, and offers women from all over the globe to record their "striking statements".

Other events around the UK include a day of celebration and protest in London, and strike demonstrations in Greater Manchester and Liverpool.



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