Mary Fitzgerald (trade unionist)

Mary Fitzgerald
Mary Fitzgerald
	Fitzgerald on a 1915 Election poster
Born	Mary Sinnott; 4 August 1883; Gortins, Cleariestown, County Wexford, Ireland
Died	26 September 1960 (aged 77); Johannesburg, South Africa
Nationality	Irish
Other names	Pickhandle Mary
Occupation	Trade unionist

Mary Fitzgerald (also known as Pickhandle Mary; 4 August 1883 – 26 September 1960) was an Irish-born South African political activist and was considered to have been the first female trade unionist in the country. She was South Africa's first female master printer. As editor of the Voice of Labour, she published articles advocating for women's enfranchisement, racially integrated trade unions and revolutionary socialism. She played a lead role in the Black Friday Riots of 1913. She was the first woman to be elected to the Johannesburg City Council (JCC) in 1915 and later served as Deputy Mayor of Johannesburg.^[1]

^ "Mama Mary Fitzgerald (Posthumous) | The Presidency". www.thepresidency.gov.za. Retrieved 31 October 2022.

[1] "Mama Mary Fitzgerald (Posthumous) | The Presidency". www.thepresidency.gov.za. Retrieved 31 October 2022.

[1]

Mary Fitzgerald
Fitzgerald on a 1915 Election poster
Born	Mary Sinnott (1883-08-04)4 August 1883 Gortins, Cleariestown, County Wexford, Ireland
Died	26 September 1960(1960-09-26) (aged 77) Johannesburg, South Africa
Nationality	Irish
Other names	Pickhandle Mary
Occupation	Trade unionist