GMB women GMB’s history has been shaped by powerful women.
Margaret Grace Bondfield was an English Labour politician and
feminist, the first woman Cabinet minister in the United Kingdom
and one of the first three female Labour MPs. She devoted her
career to women’s rights.
Another key figure in GMB’s history is Mary Macarthur. A
pioneering trade unionist and women’s rights campaigner, she was
secretary of the Women’s Trade Union League and a leader in the
fight for the vote.
In 1906 she founded the National Federation of Women Workers,
which was open to all women in unorganised trades who did not have
access to their own trade union. GMB represents workers from all
trades in the same way today.
Margaret Bondfield
1873–1953 The first female Cabinet minister.
Fighting for the vote
Mary Macarthur was a pioneering figure in women’s rights.
Group portraitFormal Congress portrait of the union with Charles
Dukes the second General Secretary.
Stand up for women
Margaret Bondfield on the campaign trail in March 1920.
Mary Macarthur
1880–1921 Trade Unionist and women’s rights campaigner.
The National Federation of Women Workers
The National Federation of Women Workers (NFWW) was formed in
1906 by Mary Macarthur to organise women against the sweated
industries and fight for a minimum wage.
www.gmb.org.ukYour GMB
GMB A1 posters1.V6.indd 2 16/05/2013 3:45 pm
