Mary Carlin

Mary Carlin (13 August 1873 – 5 April 1939) was a British trade unionist.

Born in Eastwood, Nottinghamshire, Carlin became a trade union activist. In 1916, she was one of the first women to become a national organiser, for the Dock, Wharf, Riverside and General Labourers' Union. During World War I, she served on the Women's Advisory Council of the Ministry of Munitions, and a committee of inquiry into the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps.[1]

After the war, Carlin became active in the No More War Movement, organising a large demonstration in 1922. She was also prominent in the Labour Party, being elected to its National Executive Committee in 1924 and serving for many years.[1] She stood unsuccessfully in Balham and Tooting at the 1928 London County Council election.[2] In 1930, she was selected as the party's Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Westminster Abbey, though she ultimately did not stand.[1]

The dock union became part of the Transport and General Workers' Union, and Carlin became its National Women's Officer and the secretary of its Women's Guild.[1] She also served on the Court of Referees as a trade union representative.[3] She retired in the late 1930s and died suddenly in 1939.[4]

  1. ^ a b c d Cheryl Law, Women: A Modern Political Dictionary, p.39
  2. ^ "LCC Election: Full results of polling". The Times. 10 March 1928.
  3. ^ Trades Union Congress, "Miss Mary Carlin", Report of the 1939 Annual Trades Union Congress, p.271
  4. ^ Labour Party, Report of the 38th Annual Conference, p.112