Labor Leader of Note

"Mother" Mary Harris Jones (1843-1930) was a socialist labor agitator devoted to class struggle. She is best known for organizing mine workers from the eastern coalfields to the rockies. Supporting not only the struggle of the miners, Mother Jones also organized their wives. Because mining towns were often secluded and their businesses owned by the mining companies, the strikes involved and affected the women as much as the men. Action taken by these women was often influential in the outcomes of the strikes. Mother Jones also worked in factories, organizing against the atrocities of child labor. She was a fierce agitator and charasmatic speaker, and was jailed many times. Still, her words and actions continued to inspire some of the most militant revolts in labor history. She is a symbol of working class protest and a true proletarian heroine.

At 87, she is credited to have raised a broomstick into the air and yelled, "Let's go get those sons of bitches" before charging into a coal mine where scabs were being used by management to break a long union strike.

Read more about this labor hero here, here, and here.