Mary Carlin (13 August 1873 – 5 April 1939) was a

British British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories, and Crown Dependencies. ** Britishness, the British identity and common culture * British English, ...

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 ...

. Born in

Eastwood, Nottinghamshire Eastwood is a former coal mining town in the Broxtowe district of Nottinghamshire, England, northwest of Nottingham and northeast of Derby on the border between Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire. Mentioned in Domesday Book, it expanded rapidly ...

, Carlin became a trade union activist. In 1916, she was one of the first women to become a national organiser, for the

Dock, Wharf, Riverside and General Labourers' Union The Dock, Wharf, Riverside and General Labourers Union (DWRGLU), often known as the Dockers' Union, was a British trade union representing dock workers in the United Kingdom. History The union was founded in 1887 as the Tea Operatives and Gen ...

. During

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

, she served on the Women's Advisory Council of the

Ministry of Munitions The Minister of Munitions was a British government position created during the First World War to oversee and co-ordinate the production and distribution of munitions for the war effort. The position was created in response to the Shell Crisis of ...

, and a committee of inquiry into the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps.Cheryl Law, ''Women: A Modern Political Dictionary'', p.39 After the war, Carlin became active in the

No More War Movement The No More War Movement was the name of two pacifist organisations, one in the United Kingdom and one in New Zealand. British Group The British No More War Movement (NMWM) was founded in 1921 as a pacifist and socialist successor to the No-Consc ...

, organising a large demonstration in 1922. She was also prominent in the Labour Party, being elected to its

National Executive Committee National Executive Committee is the name of a leadership body in several organizations, mostly political parties: * National Executive Committee of the African National Congress, in South Africa * Australian Labor Party National Executive * Nationa ...

in 1924 and serving for many years. She stood unsuccessfully in Balham and Tooting at the

1928 London County Council election An election to the County Council of London took place on 8 March 1928. The council was elected by First Past the Post with each elector having two votes in the two-member seats. The Labour Party made slight gains at the expense of the Municip ...

. In 1930, she was selected as the party's Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for

Westminster Abbey Westminster Abbey, formally titled the Collegiate Church of Saint Peter at Westminster, is an historic, mainly Gothic church in the City of Westminster, London, England, just to the west of the Palace of Westminster. It is one of the United ...

, though she ultimately did not stand. The dock union became part of the

Transport and General Workers' Union The Transport and General Workers' Union (TGWU or T&G) was one of the largest general trade unions in the United Kingdom and Ireland – where it was known as the Amalgamated Transport and General Workers' Union (ATGWU) to differentiate its ...

, and Carlin became its National Women's Officer and the secretary of its Women's Guild. She also served on the Court of Referees as a trade union representative. She retired in the late 1930s and died suddenly in 1939. Labour Party, ''Report of the 38th Annual Conference'', p.112

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Carlin, Mary 1873 births 1939 deaths Trade unionists from Nottinghamshire Labour Party (UK) people People from Eastwood, Nottinghamshire British women trade unionists