The Irish Women Workers' Union was a trade union which was set up at a meeting on 5 September 1911 in Dublin, Ireland. The meeting had been organized by

Delia Larkin Delia Larkin (27 February 1878 – 26 October 1949) was a trade union organiser, journalist and actress, born to Irish parents in Liverpool, England. She was influenced by the activities of her brother, James Larkin, to move to Ireland, and w ...

. The union was created because other trade unions of the time excluded women workers.

James Larkin James Larkin (28 January 1874 – 30 January 1947), sometimes known as Jim Larkin or Big Jim, was an Irish republican, socialist and trade union leader. He was one of the founders of the Irish Labour Party along with James Connolly and Willia ...

, brother of Delia, was the union's first president, while Delia was its first secretary. A founder member and activist was

Rosie Hackett Rosanna "Rosie" Hackett (25 July 1893 – 4 May 1976) was an Irish insurgent and trade union leader. She was a founder-member of the Irish Women Workers' Union, and supported strikers during the 1913 Dublin Lockout. She later became a member of ...

. In 1911 Rosie was working as a messenger for the Jacob's biscuit factory. The male workers withdrew their labour in pursuit of better working conditions and Rosie was one of the first women to come out in sympathy with them and helped organise the women workers to withdraw their labour in protest. The women were successful and they received better working conditions and an increase in pay. In Dublin a move by management at Jacob's to force three young women to remove their union badges played an important part in starting the 1913 lockout. By the end of the day more than 1,100 women had lost their jobs and the dispute took on a wider significance when their cause was taken up by dockworkers who refused to handle Jacob's goods. The union supported the striking workers and carried out industrial actions of its own, while once again Rosie Hackett helped to organise the women in Jacobs to strike and protest against poor working conditions.

Helena Molony Helena Mary Molony (15 January 1883 – 29 January 1967) was a prominent Irish republican, feminist and labour activist. She fought in the 1916 Easter Rising and later became the second woman president of the Irish Trades Union Congress. Early ...

, an Abbey actor and nationalist, became involved with Sheila Dowling, and with

Constance Markievicz Constance Georgine Markievicz ( pl, Markiewicz ; ' Gore-Booth; 4 February 1868 – 15 July 1927), also known as Countess Markievicz and Madame Markievicz, was an Irish politician, revolutionary, nationalist, suffragist, socialist, and the fir ...

helped to organise soup kitchens at Liberty Hall during the dispute. Their friend and co worker was the republican activist

Jennie Shanahan Jennie Shanahan (1897 – 29 December 1936), was a member of the Irish Citizen Army and fought in the Easter Rising and the Irish War of Independence. Life and activism Born to Mr and Mrs Michael Shanahan in 1897, Jane was better known as Je ...

. In 1937 the union, led by

Louie Bennett Louie Bennett (Louisa Elizabeth Bennett; 1870 – 1956) was an Irish suffragette, trade unionist, journalist and writer. Born and raised in Dublin, she established the Irish Women's Suffrage Federation in 1911. She was a joint editor and contr ...

, objected to passages in the new

Irish Constitution The Constitution of Ireland ( ga, Bunreacht na hÉireann, ) is the fundamental law of Ireland. It asserts the national sovereignty of the Irish people. The constitution, based on a system of representative democracy, is broadly within the traditio ...

, and were joined by the Irish Women Graduates' Association and others. They noted that: "the omission of the principle of equal rights and opportunities enunciated in the Proclamation of 1916 and confirmed in Article 3 of the Constitution of the Saorstat Éireann was deplored as sinister and retrogressive." The union's membership peaked at 6,000 in 1955, then continually fell until it merged into the

Federated Workers' Union of Ireland The Workers' Union of Ireland (WUI), later the Federated Workers' Union of Ireland, was an Irish trade union formed in 1924. In 1990, it merged with the Irish Transport and General Workers Union to form the Services, Industrial, Professional and ...

in 1984.Arthur Marsh and John B. Smethurst, ''Historical Directory of Trade Unions'', vol.5, p.467

Secretaries

:1911:

:1915:

:1917:

:1955:

Helen Chenevix Helen Sophia Chenevix (13 November 1886 – 4 March 1963) was an Irish suffragist and trade unionist. In 1911, she worked with Louie Bennett to form the Irish Women's Suffrage Federation. The two later founded the Irish Women Workers' Union. Ch ...

:1957:

Kay McDowell Kathleen "Kay" McDowell (16 August 1897 – 7 March 1975) was an Irish trade union leader. Early life and family Kay McDowell was born Kathleen Mary McDowell on 16 August 1897 at 20 Connaught Street, Phibsborough, Dublin. Her parents were Willi ...

:1970:

Maura Breslin Maura Breslin (29 December 1914 – 10 February 1984) was an Irish feminist and trade unionist. Life Maura Breslin was born Mary Breslin on 29 December 1914 in a Dublin workhouse, the illegitimate daughter of Maggie Breslin. She first worked as ...

:1982:

Padraigín Ní Mhurchú Padraigín Ní Mhurchú (20 February 1949 – 4 June 2019) was an Irish trade union leader. Born in Rakeeragh, County Monaghan, Ní Mhurchú was educated at St Louis Girls' National School in Carrickmacross. She joined the Irish Civil Ser ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Irish Women Workers' Union Defunct trade unions of Ireland 1911 establishments in Ireland Trade unions established in 1911 Trade unions disestablished in 1984

Workers The workforce or labour force is a concept referring to the pool of human beings either in employment or in unemployment. It is generally used to describe those working for a single company or industry, but can also apply to a geographic regio ...

1984 disestablishments in Ireland