Advance Notice - 1888 Bryant and May Strike Commemoration

Later this year a meeting is being held by trade unionists in London to remember a very important strike that took place in 1888. More info on what became known as the London Match Girls strike here.

The London matchgirls strike of 1888 was a strike of the women and teenage girls working at the Bryant and May Factory in Bow, London. The strike was prompted by the poor working conditions in the match factory, including fourteen-hour work days, poor pay, excessive fines, and the severe health complications of working with yellow (or white) phosphorus, such as phossy jaw.[1]

Led by Socialist activist Annie Besant, with the support of Herbert Burrows, the strike began in June 1888. Three weeks later, the factory owners agreed to rehire the strikers and end the fine system

Meeting details

Dear Comrades,

GLATUC has organised a Celebration of the 1888 Bryant & May Matchgirls
Stike on Saturday 18th October 1.30 for 2.00pm at TUC, Congress House, Gt
Russell Street, London WC1B 3LS (nearest tube Tottenham Court Road)
supported by Unite London & Eastern Region, CWU London Region & SERTUC

All Welcome

Speakers:

Louise Raw - active trade unionist and researcher of the Strike

Professor Mary Davis - Professor of Labour History, London Metro
University - active trade unionist, member of the TUC Women's Committee
and founder and initiator of the Charter for Women Campaign

Teresa Mackay - active trade unionist and Regional Organiser for Women Race and Equalities for Unite the Union/T&G Section in Region 1

Christine Coates - active trade unionist and Librarian of the TUC Library Collections at the London Metro University which has created a website with original records from the Strike.

Come along and learn the lessons from this Strike which are still relevant
today