Public Sector Jobs and Services for Community Needs

Since the mid-1980s, service jobs in GB's public sector, particularly in London, have been looked to as a valuable source of job creation, especially for women in community-based employment projects. The employment of women in child care, local education services, & home help is described, along with criticisms of these jobs' value, quality, & training/recruitment procedures. With the return of the Conservative government in June 1987, this emphasis on public sector jobs was brought to a halt. The government's focus on privatizing housing, education, public utilities, & other local services is criticized, & it is argued that two strategies -- quality assurance & value for money in public services -- can help defend jobs & improve services at the community level. A case study of the Haringey (London) school meals campaign is offered to illustrate how the issues of womens' work, food policy, & user control interact with those of production & consumption in the development of local employment strategies. K. Hyatt