She led the National Federation of Women Workers (NFWW) and several disputes including the six-month-long networkers strike in Kilbirnie in 1913.

[1] The cotton-thread workers of Neilston struck on 25 May 1910 and McLean and Esther Dick quickly signed up the strikers into the NFWW.

[2] She was again involved when the NFWW supported the 1911 strike at the Vale of Leven dyeworks at the United Turkey Red Company.

These high numbers allowed the NFWW to apply pressure to the National Amalgamated Society of Dyers, Bleachers, Finishers and Kindred Trade and the women were accepted as members.

The NFWW welcomed the attention and McLean signed up 200 new members at the nearby Nobels’ dynamite factory in Ardeer, North Ayrshire.