Mary Quaile

Mary Quaile was an Irish trade unionist who grew up in Manchester. Having left school at the age of twelve, she became a domestic servant before working in a café. During this time, she met future Labour politician, Margaret Bondfield, who inspired Quaile to encourage catering workers in the city to unionize. As a result, she was appointed as Organising Secretary of the Manchester Women’s Trade Union Council (MWTUC) and participated in 100s meetings here in Albert Square. She would later go on to lead a women’s TUC delegation to the Soviet Union and was engaged on the Women’s Advisory Committee of the International Federation of Trade Unionists, where she championed better pay, improved working conditions and gender equality for all.

Voice Acting by Ellie Andrews Written and Produced by Ellie Andrews