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Harriet Vyse obituary Harriet Vyse obituary
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My friend Harriet Vyse, who has died aged 84, was a campaigner for equality for women for more than half a century – and in 1971 was the first woman to be elected to the national executive of the Amalgamated Union of Engineering and Foundry Workers. My friend Harriet Vyse, who has died aged 84, was a campaigner for equality for women for more than half a century – and in 1971 was the first woman to be elected to the national committee of the Amalgamated Union of Engineering and Foundry Workers.
In her heyday she was on first name terms with prime ministers and trade union barons. Her election to the national executive came when women’s lib was in the news. But Harriet was absolutely clear that she was campaigning for fairness for all. “Using women as cheap labour is no good for men either. We need a fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work for all workers,” she said. In her heyday she was on first name terms with prime ministers and trade union barons. Her election to the national committee came when women’s lib was in the news. But Harriet was absolutely clear that she was campaigning for fairness for all. “Using women as cheap labour is no good for men either. We need a fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work for all workers,” she said.
The ninth of 13 children of Minnie and John Hopper, Harriet was born in Sunderland. All local men found work hard to get during the depression, but light labouring jobs were rare indeed for Harriet’s father, who had lost one arm in an accident at the ropeworks when he was 14. When she was 18 months old, Harriet fell downstairs, hurting her back. At first she was treated for rickets. Then she was diagnosed with tuberculosis of the spine – and spent the next seven years in stiff corsets, strapped flat to a hospital bed in a vain attempt to correct curvature of the spine.The ninth of 13 children of Minnie and John Hopper, Harriet was born in Sunderland. All local men found work hard to get during the depression, but light labouring jobs were rare indeed for Harriet’s father, who had lost one arm in an accident at the ropeworks when he was 14. When she was 18 months old, Harriet fell downstairs, hurting her back. At first she was treated for rickets. Then she was diagnosed with tuberculosis of the spine – and spent the next seven years in stiff corsets, strapped flat to a hospital bed in a vain attempt to correct curvature of the spine.
The day the second world war broke out, she was in seventh heaven – all the children on her ward were sent home. So at the age of nine, she learned to walk. Her sister Lily remembers how Harriet kept falling down, and then picking herself up again – something she did in different ways for the rest of her life.The day the second world war broke out, she was in seventh heaven – all the children on her ward were sent home. So at the age of nine, she learned to walk. Her sister Lily remembers how Harriet kept falling down, and then picking herself up again – something she did in different ways for the rest of her life.
She went to school for the first time, got her first job, in a bookshop, and spent a £10 legacy on evening classes in shorthand and typing. She discovered that pay was better in factories and in 1956 got a job at Cosmos, which made radio valves – and joined the union because women had to put their hands up, like schoolchildren, when they wanted to go to the lavatory. She enlisted other women and became a shop steward – and held a union office for most of the rest of her life.She went to school for the first time, got her first job, in a bookshop, and spent a £10 legacy on evening classes in shorthand and typing. She discovered that pay was better in factories and in 1956 got a job at Cosmos, which made radio valves – and joined the union because women had to put their hands up, like schoolchildren, when they wanted to go to the lavatory. She enlisted other women and became a shop steward – and held a union office for most of the rest of her life.
When Cosmos closed, Harriet got a job at Ericssons, later taken over by Plessey, and it was there, during the 1970s, that Harriet Hopper became a household name on Wearside. She led go-slow action seeking equal pay for work of equal value. She was elected convenor of the whole factory, with a workforce of 2,000, and organised a series of protests against redundancies. She then led a women’s sit-in when closure plans were mooted.When Cosmos closed, Harriet got a job at Ericssons, later taken over by Plessey, and it was there, during the 1970s, that Harriet Hopper became a household name on Wearside. She led go-slow action seeking equal pay for work of equal value. She was elected convenor of the whole factory, with a workforce of 2,000, and organised a series of protests against redundancies. She then led a women’s sit-in when closure plans were mooted.
The factory closed in 1977 and, unable to find another job, Harriet worked in a charity shop – where she met her husband, Bob Vyse, a former Army dispatch rider. They married in 1980 and lived happily until Bob’s death from motor neurone disease in 1997.The factory closed in 1977 and, unable to find another job, Harriet worked in a charity shop – where she met her husband, Bob Vyse, a former Army dispatch rider. They married in 1980 and lived happily until Bob’s death from motor neurone disease in 1997.
Harriet is survived by Lily, a host of nieces and nephews, two stepdaughters and a step-grandson.Harriet is survived by Lily, a host of nieces and nephews, two stepdaughters and a step-grandson.
• This article was amended on 8 April 2015. Harriet Vyse was elected to the national committee of the Amalgamated Union of Engineering and Foundry Workers, rather than its national executive.