Roe v. Wade: 12 months on

Trigger warning: this article contains references to abortion and sexual violence.

In June 2022, a group of right-wing, politically appointed US Supreme Court Judges decided that abortion would no longer be protected by the US Constitution. This overthrew Roe v. Wade 1973, effectively removing the right of women to determine their own reproductive health decisions.

Just over 12 months on, 14 American states have banned abortions and five others have severely restricted access. This has removed the individual reproductive rights and power of around 22 million women without their consent. Many of these states make no exceptions for incest and rape. Amnesty International have called this “an unprecedented human rights crisis”.

In my opinion, we should all be outraged. This dystopian nightmare is a daily reality for many women - not just in the United States but potentially further around the globe if we do nothing.

I’ve been a trade unionist for forty years – first as a member of CPSA, then PCS. It is vital that unions continue in the fight to defend the rights of women. Those rights include the right to make informed choices about reproductive health and to campaign for those who have lost theirs.

I have lived with the trauma of being groomed and having had an abortion at a very young age, I know I made the right choice, with the help of medical professionals. If I hadn’t had that choice, I am not sure I would be here to share my story. But I am here. And I’m a stronger person for my lived experience: a survivor not a victim. We must ensure that we don’t let anyone or any group take our strength or rights away

PCS is committed to women's reproductive rights through our affiliation to Abortion Rights UK. We continue to raise awareness of changes in legislation in the UK, US and worldwide which impact our women members at work and in society.

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