Mary Harris Jones

Mary Harris Jones (May 1, 1837-November 30, 1930), generally known as Mrs. Jones, was the pioneer of the trade union movement in the United States in the early 1920s. She devoted her life to child labor and the rights and interests of blacks, and had a strong response in the international community.

Born in Cork, Ireland, in 1835, her grandfather participated in the British and Irish competition for sovereignty, and soon immigrated to Toronto, Canada. After graduating from school, Mrs. Jones chose to go to the U.S. as a teacher, sewing as a secondary profession, and met Mr. George Jones, a member of the Steel Labor Association in the U.S.

The first turning point in influencing Mrs. Jones's involvement in the labour movement occurred in 1867, when a sudden outbreak of yellow fever in Tennessee, Mrs. Jones's death with four children, and the second turning point was the Chicago Fire in 1871, when Mrs. Jones's entire property was paid a torch. In order to survive, Mrs. Jones fully invested in the labour movement, joining the Knights of Labor, an early group in the Industrial Workers of the World, abbreviated IWW; or Wobblies. Mrs. Jones helped the group in 1905 and participated in many national movements with an active role of educators and organizers. She also founded the United Mine Workers Association (abbreviated as WUM) and the American Social Party.

Without a fixed residence after 1880, he travelled through areas where labor disputes arose, especially coal mining enterprises. He was imprisoned in West Virginia at the age of 82 in 1912 for murder charges. After being released by the new governor, he continued to work for labor impulses and persisted until his death.