Paula Thiede

Unable to work, and with no other income, she temporarily moved away and lived in accommodation which had not been completed, the damp conditions leading to the death of her baby.

Thiede instead joined a union of women assistant print workers in Berlin, and became its president in 1894.

In 1896, it joined a strike led by the Union of German Book Printers, and secured a nine hour day.

Under her leadership, the union negotiated an agreement on pay and working conditions in 1906, but it constantly struggled with finances.

At the latter conference, she worked with Clara Zetkin to successfully propose the creation of International Women's Day.