Margaret Taylor Naysmith Fenwick (19 August 1919 – 8 February 1992), born Margaret Mands, was a

Scottish Scottish usually refers to something of, from, or related to Scotland, including: *Scottish Gaelic, a Celtic Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family native to Scotland *Scottish English *Scottish national identity, the Scottish ide ...

trade unionist A trade union (labor union in American English), often simply referred to as a union, is an organization of workers intent on "maintaining or improving the conditions of their employment", ch. I such as attaining better wages and Employee ben ...

, who became the leader of her trade union. Born in

Dundee Dundee (; sco, Dundee; gd, Dùn Dè or ) is Scotland's fourth-largest city and the 51st-most-populous built-up area in the United Kingdom. The mid-year population estimate for 2016 was , giving Dundee a population density of 2,478/km2 or ...

, Fenwick was educated at

Stobswell Stobswell is an area of Dundee, Scotland with a population of approximately 10,000. It was originally a small hamlet outside the city until the industrial revolution caused the growth of Dundee. The area is by and large a residential area. S ...

School, leaving at the age of fourteen to undertake an apprenticeship as a weaver at the

Scottish Co-operative Wholesale Society Scottish usually refers to something of, from, or related to Scotland, including: *Scottish Gaelic, a Celtic Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family native to Scotland *Scottish English *Scottish national identity, the Scottish ide ...

's Taybank Works. She followed in a family tradition of becoming an active trade unionist, joining the

Dundee and District Union of Jute and Flax Workers The Union of Jute, Flax and Kindred Textile Operatives was a trade union representing workers in the textile trades in and around Dundee in Scotland. The union was founded after a major strike in the industry in Dundee. The strikers had no offic ...

, and within a year achieved success in campaigning for apprentices to be paid at the same rate regardless of age.Ed. Elizabeth Ewan et al, ''The Biographical Dictionary of Scottish Women'', pp.115-116 In about 1948, Fenwick was elected to the Management Committee of the union, and that year married Andrew Small Fenwick, a co-worker; the couple had four children. She tried to become a shop steward in 1950, but the company management refused to allow this, claiming that because she was married and had young children, she would be unable to fulfil the role to the same standard as a single person. Fenwick continued her activity in the union, which was renamed as the

Union of Jute, Flax and Kindred Textile Operatives The Union of Jute, Flax and Kindred Textile Operatives was a trade union representing workers in the textile trades in and around Dundee in Scotland. The union was founded after a major strike in the industry in Dundee. The strikers had no offic ...

. She was elected as Assistant General Secretary in 1960, then as General Secretary in 1971. she served on various government committees relating to the jute industry, and was made a

Member of the Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations, and public service outside the civil service. It was established o ...

in 1973. In 1976, Fenwick served as chair of the General Federation of Trade Unions, the first woman to hold the post. Fenwick announced her retirement in 1978.Carlo Morelli, ''The Decline of Jute: Managing Industrial Change'', p.58 Her post was not filled, as the union merged into the

National Union of Dyers, Bleachers and Textile Workers The National Union of Dyers, Bleachers and Textile Workers (NUDBTW) was a trade union in the United Kingdom. History The union was founded in 1936 with the merger of the National Union of Textile Workers, which was the main union representing ...

the following May. In retirement, she focused on her role as a

magistrate The term magistrate is used in a variety of systems of governments and laws to refer to a civilian officer who administers the law. In ancient Rome, a '' magistratus'' was one of the highest ranking government officers, and possessed both judici ...

, and also served on

industrial tribunal Employment tribunals are tribunal public bodies in England and Wales and Scotland which have statutory jurisdiction to hear many kinds of disputes between employers and employees. The most common disputes are concerned with unfair dismissal, redu ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Fenwick, Margaret 1919 births 1992 deaths General secretaries of British trade unions Presidents of the General Federation of Trade Unions (UK) People from Dundee Scottish women trade unionists