Agnes Nestor
Encyclopedia
Agnes Nestor was a United States
campaigner for women's suffrage
and workers' rights.
, but at the age of seven moved with her family to Chicago, Illinois, where she started work in a glove factory. She was one of the leaders of a 1902 strike of women workers at her factory (encouraged and supported by the unionised
men), which lasted ten days. The strike was successful, all the women's demands being met, including a union shop.
In 1902, however, Nestor led the women out of the men's union, becoming the president of the newly formed women's local, and went on in the same year to be one of the founders of the International Glove Workers Union. She was a national vice president of the union from 1903 to 1906, then secretary-treasurer from 1906 to 1913, general president from 1913 to 1915, vice-president again from 1915 to 1938, and director of research and education from 1938 to 1948. She was active in the Chicago Women's Trade Union League, and served as its president from 1913 to 1948.
Nestor was a co-founder (with Mary Kenney O'Sullivan, Jane Addams
, Mary McDowell, Margaret Haley
, Helen Marot, Florence Kelley
, and Sophonisba Breckinridge
) of the Women's Trade Union League
(WTUL), and sat on its executive board. .
She also helped to organise unions in other industries, such as the needle trades, campaigned for women's suffrage, a minimum wage
, and maternity health legislation, and against child labour, and took part in the 1909 and 1910–1911 garment workers' strikes. She was largely responsible for the passing of the Illinois ten-hour-day law of 1909 (her goal of an eight-hour day wasn't reached until 1937).
Nestor died in Chicago aged 68 of undisclosed causes, although her physician's report cites a mass in her breast and also that she was under a doctor's care for lung disease.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
campaigner for women's suffrage
Women's suffrage
Women's suffrage or woman suffrage is the right of women to vote and to run for office. The expression is also used for the economic and political reform movement aimed at extending these rights to women and without any restrictions or qualifications such as property ownership, payment of tax, or...
and workers' rights.
Biography
Nestor was born in Grand Rapids, MichiganGrand Rapids, Michigan
Grand Rapids is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The city is located on the Grand River about 40 miles east of Lake Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 188,040. In 2010, the Grand Rapids metropolitan area had a population of 774,160 and a combined statistical area, Grand...
, but at the age of seven moved with her family to Chicago, Illinois, where she started work in a glove factory. She was one of the leaders of a 1902 strike of women workers at her factory (encouraged and supported by the unionised
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
men), which lasted ten days. The strike was successful, all the women's demands being met, including a union shop.
In 1902, however, Nestor led the women out of the men's union, becoming the president of the newly formed women's local, and went on in the same year to be one of the founders of the International Glove Workers Union. She was a national vice president of the union from 1903 to 1906, then secretary-treasurer from 1906 to 1913, general president from 1913 to 1915, vice-president again from 1915 to 1938, and director of research and education from 1938 to 1948. She was active in the Chicago Women's Trade Union League, and served as its president from 1913 to 1948.
Nestor was a co-founder (with Mary Kenney O'Sullivan, Jane Addams
Jane Addams
Jane Addams was a pioneer settlement worker, founder of Hull House in Chicago, public philosopher, sociologist, author, and leader in woman suffrage and world peace...
, Mary McDowell, Margaret Haley
Margaret Haley
Margaret A. Haley was a teacher and unionist who was dubbed the "lady labor slugger". Haley was the first business representative of the Chicago Teachers' Federation and a pioneer leader in organizing schoolteachers...
, Helen Marot, Florence Kelley
Florence Kelley
Florence Kelley was an American social and political reformer. Her work against sweatshops and for the minimum wage, eight-hour workdays, and children's rights is widely regarded today.-Family:...
, and Sophonisba Breckinridge
Sophonisba Breckinridge
Sophonisba Preston Breckinridge was an American activist, Progressive Era social reformer, social scientist and innovator in higher education.- Background :...
) of the Women's Trade Union League
Women's Trade Union League
The Women's Trade Union League was a U.S. organization of both working class and more well-off women formed in 1903 to support the efforts of women to organize labor unions and to eliminate sweatshop conditions...
(WTUL), and sat on its executive board. .
She also helped to organise unions in other industries, such as the needle trades, campaigned for women's suffrage, a minimum wage
Minimum wage
A minimum wage is the lowest hourly, daily or monthly remuneration that employers may legally pay to workers. Equivalently, it is the lowest wage at which workers may sell their labour. Although minimum wage laws are in effect in a great many jurisdictions, there are differences of opinion about...
, and maternity health legislation, and against child labour, and took part in the 1909 and 1910–1911 garment workers' strikes. She was largely responsible for the passing of the Illinois ten-hour-day law of 1909 (her goal of an eight-hour day wasn't reached until 1937).
Nestor died in Chicago aged 68 of undisclosed causes, although her physician's report cites a mass in her breast and also that she was under a doctor's care for lung disease.