Hazel Thomson and Anna Bourke

Within the hardships of WW1 Home Front such as serving men being away, raging inflation and food shortages women factory workers went on strike from the Walter Evans Co Ltd mills.  These women worked on the ‘shop floor’ and were considered unskilled labour employed as, for example, doublers and winders which required no formal education or apprenticeships.  In line with working practices of the time women were paid less than men.  Consequentially, their pay was significantly less than average for other comparable work.  It was these women, some with years of experience, as well as the “girls” and “lads” that went on strike to improve their working conditions, pay and gain union recognition.

In February 1914 these workers threatened strike action but it was not pursued when they were given an assurance that grievances would be considered: war was declared in August of the same year.  As time went by they tried to discuss concerns with management, all to no avail, so joined the Worker’s Union on mass in March 1917 to gain support for their cause: about 130 women took up membership. The Workers Union were keen to support unskilled and women workers by offering representation. The Union attempted negotiation but the then owner, John Peacock, would not enter into discussion.

With the failure of any meaningful talks taking place the strike started on 15^th September, 1917.  Local, regional and national union officials along with George Asquith, Chief Industrial Commissioner made interventions to support the strikers.  The women returned to work in January 1918 without fanfare or public acknowledgement of any settlements.

On top of the disturbing nature of the war there were also other unsettling issues for the nation’s establishment such as the mostly paused activity of women’s suffrage and the pursuit of equality.  These areas still generated suspicion of suffragists and women activists who were seen as causing disruption and mayhem to the fabric of society which included the ‘cause celebre’ case of Alice Wheeldon who lived in Derby and was arrested, tried and convicted of conspiring to assassinate the Prime Minister, Lloyd George.  Whilst some employers accepted union involvement, many did not. Union growth and development and the quest to gain better pay and working conditions were other factors shaking the state’s institutions.

The unassuming nature of the striker’s return to work hides the success of their achievements. The wages ledger shows that pay, along with the addition of war bonuses, increased after the strike.  In some cases, this doubled the workers’ pay. Union membership continued although management did not appear to pay this much attention and there was a slight reduction in their hours worked per week.  In addition, the women strikers’ action progressed women’s rights and the growth and development of trade unions.

More information is available in ‘Fact and Fabrication – Glimpses of the WW1 Home Front in the Derwent Valley’ booklet.