[BC_Labour_E-NEWS] Union Women Outraged at Arrest of Women's Centres Advocates

[bc_labour_enews at bcfed.net]

March 12, 2004

** For Immediate Release **

Union Women Outraged at Arrest of Women's Centres Advocates

Vancouver - B.C. Federation of Labour Secretary Treasurer, Angela Schira,
expressed outrage at the arrest of five women advocating for funding
restoration for BC's women's centre.

"It's an absolute disgrace," said Schira, "the BC Liberals may be used to
having police in the Legislature, BC women are not." Five representatives
were arrested following a meeting with Liberal Women's Services Minister of
State Ida Chong. Chong refused to restore the drastic women's centres
funding cuts the Liberals made two years earlier. "The Liberals have been
condemned by the United Nations for their draconian cuts to women's
services, and when women's advocates finally have an opportunity to meet
with the government, they end up arrested. No wonder polls show plummeting
support for the Liberals among women voters."

The arrested women had been calling on the government to restore the $1.7
million funding traditionally provided to women's centres. "These women only
pointed out that if the Liberals put an end to the millions of taxpayer
dollars spent on political health care ads, women's centres could be funded
for 11 years." Some estimates say the BC Liberals have already spent close
to $20 million on their self-promoting health care ads.

"A picture speaks a thousand words, and the picture of these women
handcuffed by the BC Liberals says it all," Schira stated. Schira noted that
these women have a right to political protest. "Women in British Columbia
have been abandoned by this mean-spirited government. When they stand up to
draw attention to it, the Liberals have them arrested. So much for open and
accountable, so much for democracy," added Schira.

Schira noted that women's centres often serve as the last lifeline for
thousand of women and children across BC. "We won't take these attacks on
women lightly, we'll be working with women's organizations in every corner
of BC, we're fighting back," concluded Schira, pledging the support of the
B.C. Federation of Labour in this struggle.

-30-

For more information contact: Jessie Uppal 604-430-1421 or 604-220-0739.

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