British Women Trade Unionists on Strike at Bryant & May, 1888 - Key Data

In 1888, women and girls employed as match workers by Bryant & May in the east end of London went on strike. Earlier that year, the socialist campaigner, Annie Besant, published an article called “White Slavery in London”, revealing the terrible working conditions and low wages suffered by the “match girls” employed at the factory. This included dangers to life: workers could get “phossy jaw”, or phosphorus necrosis, a deadly form of bone cancer, from exposure to the poisonous fumes of the yellow phosphorous used to make matches.

The women in the factory formed a trade union, which came out on strike. They had the support of some of the press, and many in respectable Victorian society. The owners gave in to demands, ending the strike. This was the first time that a union of unskilled workers had succeeded in striking for better pay and working conditions in London. It was not until 1901, however, that Bryant & May stopped using phosphorous in their matches.