Rita Stephen

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]

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]