Biography
Marion Jones
A Trade Union Shop Steward at Hoovers and a Women's Rights Campaigner
The Mapping Merthyr Through Women’s Histories workshop brought together staff from across the Libraries and Museum service and partner sectors to uncover, honour, and amplify the stories of women who shaped Merthyr. Informed by insights from the valley‑wide Heritage and Herstories community drop‑ins, participants each chose and reflected on a woman’s story that deserves recognition, creating a collective map of Merthyr’s past through diverse female perspectives. This project marks only the beginning — with hopes to continue these workshops and collaborate with more communities across the valley, further enriching and expanding the narrative of local women’s history.
Written by Ronan Burke, a PGCE student on placement at Cyfarthfa Castle Museum and Art Gallery:
Marion Jones played a key role in advancing women’s rights in Merthyr Tydfil. She worked in several local factories before joining the Hoover factory in Pentrebach in 1963, where she became a trade union shop steward. Hoover was one of the area’s largest employers, providing jobs to approximately 5,000 men and women at its peak production years.
In the early 1970s, after the Equal Pay Act (1970) was introduced, Marion helped lead a campaign at Hoover for women to receive the same pay as men. Inspired by the 1968 Ford sewing machinists’ strike in Dagenham, Marion and other women asked management for equal pay. The company agreed in principle, but some male workers and union representatives strongly opposed the campaign, saying women did not do the same work. This led to an unofficial strike by male employees. In the end, the women’s claim was successful and equal pay was introduced. Even though there was still hostility at work, Marion stayed committed and helped make a lasting difference for future generations of women.
I chose Marion Jones because her story shines a light on a part of Merthyr Tydfil’s history that is often missed. Merthyr’s industrial history has a heavy focus on male industrial workers, but Marion’s experiences show that women were integral to shaping the town’s social, cultural and economic landscape. Her fight for equity within the workplace took great courage, resilience, and leadership. This story matters because it reminds us that progress often comes from ordinary people standing up for fairness and equality in their communities and workplaces.