Collar Laundry Union facts for kids

The Collar Laundry Union was a very important group of workers in the United States. It was the first time only women came together to form a labor union. A labor union is like a team that workers create to ask for better pay and safer working conditions. This special union started in Troy, New York in 1864. A brave young woman named Kate Mullany helped to create it.

The Collar Laundry Union

The Collar Laundry Union was a groundbreaking organization. It showed that women could successfully organize and fight for their rights. This union was formed by laundresses, who were women who washed and ironed clothes for a living.

What Was Life Like for Laundresses?

Being a laundress in the 1860s was incredibly tough. Most laundresses were women. They worked for 12 to 14 hours every day. Their pay was very low. The buildings where they worked were often extremely hot. This is where the term "sweatshop" first came from.

Working conditions were also dangerous. Laundresses used boiling water, strong chemicals, and very hot irons. If a piece of clothing got damaged, the worker had to pay for its repair or replacement. This money was taken directly from their small wages.

A Bold Idea: Forming a Union

Kate Mullany was only 19 years old. She saw how successful men's labor unions were. She believed women could do the same. Along with her co-worker, Esther Keegan, Kate talked to other laundresses. She convinced them to protest their low pay and unsafe jobs. They decided to form a union together.

On February 23, 1864, something amazing happened. About 300 members of the Collar Laundry Union went on strike. This meant they stopped working to demand changes. After just six days, the laundry owners agreed to their demands. They raised the laundresses' wages by 25 percent! This was a huge victory for the union.

Kate Mullany's Legacy

Kate Mullany continued to be a leader. In September 1868, she was chosen for a big role. She became the assistant secretary and national organizer for women. This was for the National Labor Union in New York City. She was the first woman ever to hold such an important position in this national organization.

Kate Mullany's home in Troy, New York, is also famous. It is located at 350 8th Street. This house, called the Kate Mullany House, is now a special place. It was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. In 1998, it was named a National Historic Landmark. This means it is a very important historical site in the United States.