“It takes two flints to make a fire.” – Louisa May Alcott
Last month we took a look at the partnership between John Newton and William Wilberforce working together to overcome slavery. This month’s column tells the story of a small but mighty team working together to overcome unfair, oppressive working conditions.
In the late 1800’s there were dozens of match making factories operating in England. A company named Bryant and May, operating in the poverty-stricken East End of London, was the largest of these.
Most of the workers in this factory were young girls who worked long and hard 12 hours a day, six days a week. They made only starvation wages. They were fined for things such as accidentally dropping a match. Worst of all, the girls had to work directly with white phosphorus, a dangerous substance which caused a form of cancer referred to as “phossy jaw.”
As the companies were making 20% dividends yet still underpaying their workers unrest was mounting but the girls were financially powerless and dependent. On June 15, 1888, a man aptly named Henry Champion reported these conditions and proposed a boycott which was passed unanimously.
This triggered a prominent social reformer named Annie Besant to meet with some of the girls outside the factory. This led to her article titled White Slavery in London being published in a June 1888 newspaper publication.
Of course, the match factory owners were furious and tried to force their workers to sign false statements to negate the allegations. Thankfully, they had the courage to refuse to do so, despite risking losing the only income they had. After a girl was dismissed, 1,400 girls walked out of the factory in what became known as the history-changing Match Girls’ Strike on July 5, 1888.
One of the girls who was able to read and write wrote to Annie Besant on behalf of the oppressed match girls saying, “My Dear Lady, We thank you very much for the kind interest you have taken in us poor girls, and hope that you will succeed in your undertakings… I might have put my or our names, but we are frightened. Do keep that as a secret. We know you will do that dear lady.”
The match girls formed a committee of eight women who, backed by Besant and Champion, were able to bring about improved working conditions and abolish unfair fines. After the committee was able to secure the support of the London Trades Council, they met with the owners of Bryant and May, who agreed to new and improved terms. The news was met with wild cheering. Their former wages could only buy enough low-quality food to stay alive and perhaps one piece of coal.
In 1891, William Booth, founder of the Salvation Army, opened a competing factory which produced “Lights in Darkest England” matches made of safe red phosphorus. This factory paid even better wages, which forced competitors to improve their standards as well.
In 1893, the British government introduced strict health rules to 22 “Lucifer” (friction match) factories. The brave young women, a journalist, and an activist courageously lit the sparks that burned oppression against all odds.
