On 3rd February 2025, Solace Women’s Aid made history when they announced that their staff had returned a 92% turnout and 100% vote in favour of an indefinite strike to stop devastating job cuts. Days later, hundreds of people gathered outside Tower Hamlets Town Hall demanding change.
While strike action has long been a central part of feminist politics and organising, frontline gender-based violence workers have never gone on strike. The reasons for this go right to the heart of feminist gender-based violence politics: not only is the chairty sector traditionally un-unionised but within gender-based violence sector high levels of precarity and burn-out exist alongside a fear of disloyalty to the cause, and concerns around what strike action could do to survivors. Solace’s recent move thus asks us to reconsider the relationship between feminist politics and gender-based violence support services.
In this online event you will hear from Solace workers who will reflect on the decision-making behind the strike, as well as leading thinkers on the topic of feminist gender-based violence politics including Leah Cowan, Tanya Serisier and molly ackhurst. Together they will explore what this strike means, for feminist politics and gender-based violence service provision in Britain.
Tickets for this event are being sold on a 'pay what you feel' basis - all proceeds will go to the Solace Workers' strike fund so please give generously.
Zoom details will be circulated to ticket-holders nearer the time.
