Matchgirls Strikers Exhibition at House of Commons

 

Last week on Tuesday evening I was privileged to be invited to the opening of an exhibition in the House of Commons on the 1888 Matchgirls Strike in Bow, East London. This successful strike against low pay, bullying and unsafe working practices was organised and led by working class women. 

The exhibition was organised by the Great Granddaughter (Sam Johnson) of one of the strike leaders, Sarah Chapman who is buried in Newham. 

Many thanks to my MP, Uma Kumaran (Stratford and Bow) for sponsoring the display. It was great to see Angela Rayner MP and James Asser MP also at the opening. 

I worked for many years in Bow, in a housing office directly opposite the site of the strike (the Bryant & May match making factory).