Rita Stephen
British trade unionist (1925–2020)
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Henrietta Hamilton Stephen MBE (9 December 1925 to 21 May 2020), known as Rita, was a trade unionist who fought for the rights of working women and equal pay in the 1960s and 1970s.
9 December 1925
Rita Stephen | |
|---|---|
| Born | Henrietta Hamilton Stephen 9 December 1925 Glasgow, Scotland |
| Died | 21 May 2020 (aged 94) |
| Alma mater | London School of Economics |
| Known for | Trade unionist |
Early life
Stephen was born in Glasgow, Scotland, to James Stephen and Mary Stephen (née Morton).[1] She went to Queen's Park Secondary School.[1]
Early trade union activity
Leaving school, Stephen worked at the Post Office for 17 years.[1] She became a shop steward for the Union of Post Office Workers. In 1957, her trade union activity was rewarded with a one-year trade-union scholarship to the London School of Economics (LSE).[2] While at LSE, she led a campaign for shower facilities for students living off-site.[2] Stephen then went onto study at McGill University in Montreal, Canada.[1]
Campaigning for equal rights
As a National Official of the Clerical and Administrative Workers' Union,[3] Stephen was responsible for negotiating conditions for office workers, clerk and secretaries, whose members were mostly women.[1] She specialised in trade-union education and equal rights.[1] After the Labour government brought in the Equal Pay Act of 1970, the slow implementation of the legislation prompted Stephen and her trade-union colleagues to encourage local officers to submit equal pay claims to employers.[1]
Stephen was involved in creating TUC policies for equal pay and education.[1]
In June 1973, Stephen was appointed MBE for "For services to the Food Standards Committee".[1]
Committee membership
Along with membership of Trade Unions, Stephen represented the trade union movement on many committees.
- Before 1957 – Union of Post Office Workers – Shop Steward[1]
- 1960 – 1965 – Clerical and Administrative Workers’ Union – London Area Organiser[3]
- 1965 – 1971 – Clerical and Administrative Workers' Union – Editor of The Clerk, the monthly journal[3]
- 1965 – 1989 – Clerical and Administrative Workers' Union – National Official[3]
- 1965 – 2000s – Mary Macarthur Educational Trust – Secretary[1]
- 1968 – 1980 – Food Standards Committee – Member[1]
- 1972 – 1989 – APEX – National Official[3]
- 1973 – 1989 – British Wool Marketing Board – Member[1]
- 1989 – 1991 – National Union of General and Municipal Workers – National Officer[3]
- 1973 – 1983 – Monopolies and Mergers Commission – Member[3]
- 1976 – 2005 – London School of Economics – Governor[1]