Nield was outraged by the poor working conditions where piecework made it difficult to earn a living wage, men were paid more than women, the women had to buy their own threads and other materials and the work was given out according to the favouritism of the male supervisors. She wrote to the press about conditions in the factory under the name of “A Crewe Factory Girl”
and the paper asked her to write more. She did so until forced to admit her identity and forced to leave her job.
Nield carried on as a Trade Union and Political Activist, Suffrage Speaker, and Writer.
Ada Nield Chew was, in my opinion, a true working class heroine speaking up for herself and others in spite of the risk to her own wellbeing.
I can thoroughly recommend reading “Ada Nield Chew, The Life and Writings of a Working Woman” (Virago Press, 1982)