On International Women's Day, rail, maritime and transport union RMT is reaffirming its commitment to tackling sexism and inequality, and warning that the Government's plans for the railways could spell disaster for women passengers and workers.

International Women's Day began in 1911, as a day of protests in support of rights for working-class women. This year, it coincides with the Government's publication of its response to the McNulty report.

RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said: "The McNulty report, and the government's response to it, will see ticket offices closed and staff removed from stations and elsewhere. This will leave many women passengers in fear of travelling through deserted stations, and cost women workers their jobs and livelihoods."

Janine Booth, a member of the union's Executive, added: "In a recent survey of women RMT members, around three-quarters of respondants said that there is a sexist culture in their workplace, and many of our members complain of discriminatory treatment by employers. There is still a shocking gap between average pay for men and women, and still far too many jobs that are wrongly seen as either "men's jobs" or "women's jobs", which is not fair on either men or women."

RMT's annual Women's Conference takes place in Weymouth tomorrow and Saturday.