The Matchgirl’s Strike 1888

The so-called Matchgirl’s Strike 1888 in Britain was an important historical event for trade unionists, labour movements as well as feminists. It is often considered the start of New Unionism, a new movement, allowing unskilled workers to unionize and strike for better working conditions. Feminists also remember the strike as a one-of-a-kind event in the late 19 hundreds, as it was initiated, carried out and lead by women only.

Match-making during the Industrial Revolution

Working conditions (at Bryant&May)

In most factories, health conditions were not the only problem. Most of them worked with a “sweating-system“, meaning employees worked for long hours for low wages and under overall unhealthy conditions. This was also the case in the match-making company Bryant&May. It was formed by William Bryant and Francis May in 1843 and by 1888 the company employed around 5000 people. The employers were mostly female, only the dipping of the matches falling to men. Bryant&May’s workers did not fall under the Factory Acts, a series of acts passed by British parliament in 1802 to regulate and improve working conditions for factory workers. In addition to the low wages and long working hours, workers had to provide some of their material themselves, were often paid per box rather than per hour and also had to deal with a series of meticulous fines.

If they had dirty feet, an untidy workplace, were talking or late or only dropped a match, money was deducted from their already small payment. This payment was already reduced, because they had to give some of the money to their foreworkers, who enforced all the fines and regulations.  Bryant&May was also aware of the worker’s issues with the “phossy jaw“ but only told them to go home and get their teeth removed. 

The Aftermath

The strike inspired several organized movements by industrial workers around the UK. Later in 1888, The Union of Women Matchmakers was formed, at this time the largest union of women in the country. Following the events, Bryant&May received bad publicity and started using red instead of white phosphorus in 1901. But because the could not financially compete with the other companies still using the cheaper white, they increased their number of working children instead, not really morally and ethically evolving.

Today

Considering the strike was back in the 19th century, it is mentioned, remembered and referred to surprisingly often. It is remembered in a feminist context, as well as by unions and in popular culture.

Feminists mark it as a historic mile stone for all-female-movements and female activists and strike participants such as Annie Besant or Sarah Chapman are emphasized and celebrated as female role models in the labour movements and general female history. The reason why this strike is so often mentioned in a feminist context are the time and the circumstances under which it took place. While trade unions did become more common during the Victorian Era, most were lead by men only and often even denied to integrate female workers. Thus, women like the “matchgirls“ needed to find their own way of making their voices heard and their demands recognized. The Matchgirl’s Strike from 1888 was the first of it’s kind with women like Sarah Chapman being the first female leaders of such a significant labour movement and not only did this group of women organize and lead a strike on their own, they also were successful. Their actions not only inspired later movements such as the London dock strike 1889, but improved working conditions for later generations, revealed health condition issues in companies during that time and set the foundation for modern trade unionism of unskilled workers, all while having the rights of a female in the Victorian Era.

Trade unions see the strike as one of the starting points of New Unionism. Furthermore, trade unions such as the largest union in the UK today, UNISON or the GMB, remember the strike and it’s participants on their website and try to donate to help preserve proper remembrances (statues, memorials etc) and promote a petition to save Sarah Chapman’s grave. They celebrate the strike as a starting point and a spark, that ignited a whole movement and build a base for their work today. Preserving memorials and remembering the matchwomen through speeches, articles and events is meant to highlight their contribution to the trade union movements and inspire future generations of unionists and reformers.

There is also a Matchgirl’s memorial fund, that does exactly this work and a Matchgirl’s Memorial website to keep their story in everyone’s memories.

Historian, writer and trade unionist Louise Raw is probably one of the people most determined to honor the Matchgirl’s heritage. In 2011, she published her book “Striking a Light: The Bryant and May Matchwomen and their Place in History“, describing the specific stories of the Matchwomen and the events of 1888. After years of research to wipe out stereotypes and incorrect narratives and fighting for the recognition of the women’s achievements, she succeeded in getting the strike official commemoration through English Heritage. English Heritage is an organization, that puts up plaques in and around London to remember people or events by. One can suggest an event or a person for a plaque and if it fits the conditions, the plaque is hung up at a place that has a connection to either.