Margaret Irwin (trade unionist) facts for kids

Margaret Hardinge Irwin CBE (born 13 January 1858 – died 23 January 1940) was an important Scottish activist. She worked hard for women's right to vote and for better conditions for workers, especially women. She held important jobs in the trade union movement, which helps workers.

Early Life and Education

Margaret Irwin was born on a ship called the Lord Hardinge. This is where she got her middle name. She grew up in Broughty Ferry in Forfarshire, Scotland.

She had a private education and also went to the High School of Dundee. Later, she studied at the University of St Andrews and received a special degree called "Lady Literate in Arts." She also attended the Glasgow School of Art and Queen Margaret College. After her studies, she became very interested in women's rights. She also bought and managed a fruit farm in Blairgowrie.

Working for Change

In 1891, Margaret Irwin became a full-time organizer in Scotland for the Women's Protective and Provident League. This group helped working women. In 1895, she became the secretary of the Scottish Council for Women's Trades (SCWT).

In her role, she pushed for the creation of the Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC). This was a big group that brought together many different trade unions to fight for workers' rights. When the STUC was formed in 1897, Margaret Irwin was chosen as its very first secretary.

She was very focused on improving conditions for women who worked from home. These workers often had very low pay and worked extremely long hours. The Glasgow Council for Women's Trades, with Margaret Irwin's help, worked to pass a law. This law, called the Seats for Shop Assistants Act 1899, made sure that shops provided seats for women working behind counters.

Margaret Irwin also gave talks about fair shopping. She believed that if something was too cheap, someone, usually the worker, was paying the price for it. She encouraged people to support shops that treated their workers fairly.

Fighting for Women's Vote

Margaret Irwin was a founding member and secretary of the Glasgow and West of Scotland Association for Women's Suffrage. This group worked to get women the right to vote. She went to a big meeting in London in 1903 to discuss women's civil rights.

In 1907, she left this group to join the more active Women's Social and Political Union. This group was known for its strong actions to achieve women's suffrage. In 1908, she spoke at a meeting for the new Hillhead branch of the Women's Freedom League, another group fighting for women's voting rights.

Later Years and Legacy

By the 1920s, Margaret Irwin spent a lot of her time on her fruit farm. She worked to create good housing for the workers there. She was recognized for her contributions and became a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. In 1927, she was awarded the title of Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE).

The Scottish Council for Women's Trades (SCWT) closed down in 1939. Margaret Irwin passed away the following year, in 1940. She is remembered as a key figure who fought for the rights of women and workers in Scotland.