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Media On this day, 7 June 1968, women workers at Ford’s Dagenham plant in England walked out on strike for equal pay with male workers. The women, who sewed car seats, were classified as "unskilled", while men working at the same or similar jobs were classified as "skilled", and so were paid at a higher rate.All 187 women walked out, but even though the thousands of men in the plant remained at work, car production was brought to a complete standstill. Around 200 women at another UK Ford factory walked out in support. Initially, Ford refused to negotiate, while the media try to disparage or ridicule the women. For example, one newspaper published a photograph of the women with their banner declaring "We want sex equality" partially unfurled so that only "We want sex" was visible.One of the workers, Eileen Pullen, later recounted to the Guardian: "Some of the men said: 'Good for you girl', but others said: 'Get back to work, you're only doing it for pin money'… But our wages weren't for pin money, they were to help with the cost of living, to pay your mortgage and help pay all your bills. It wasn't pocket money. No woman would go out to work just for pocket money, would she? Not if she's got a family".After three weeks, the strikers eventually agreed to return to work for 92% of the men’s wages (up from 85%) in a deal brokered by the government. The strike was the key reason for the Equal Pay Act of 1970, although nominal pay equality at Ford was only achieved after a later strike in 1984. This strike is commemorated by our latest T-Shirt of the Month, made by a mostly-women workers' cooperative, supporting grassroots unions in South Asia. Designed by @jamiemaxcartoon. Available with global shipping: https://shop.workingclasshistory.com/collections/t-shirt-of-the-month

Media On this day, 25 May 1895, libertarian socialist author Oscar Wilde was imprisoned for two years' hard labour for "indecency" for having sex with men. Though many potential witnesses refused to testify against him, he was convicted, and upon sentencing judge stated: “It is the worst case I have ever tried. I shall pass the severest sentence that the law allows. In my judgment it is totally inadequate for such a case as this. The sentence of the Court is that you be imprisoned and kept to hard labour for two years.” Wilde's detention would cause him serious health problems which eventually contributed to his untimely death. In his essay, The Soul of Man under Socialism, in which he expounds his political ideas, he declares: "Disobedience, in the eyes of any one who has read history, is man's original virtue. It is through disobedience that progress has been made, through disobedience and through rebellion."If you value our research and promotion of people's history of disobedience, considered joining us on patreon, and accessing exclusive content and benefits: https://patreon.com/workingclasshistoryLink in bio