[2][3] On its creation, it was the largest union of women and girls in the country,[4] and inspired a wave of collective organising among industrial workers.

[5][6][7] The Union of Women Match Makers was formed following successful industrial action by workers at the Bryant & May factory, who challenged poor and unsafe working conditions, and low pay.

[12] The Pall Mall Gazette reported Black as saying:Many ills occurred from women not taking part in public life.

[15] Burrows also proposed the election of five East End members of the London Trades’ Council to act as a consultative committee, to whom the girls might turn for advice in difficulties.

In 1896, at the International Socialist Workers and Trade Union Congress in London, the Matchmakers' Union submitted the following resolution:That this Congress presses upon the workers of all countries in which matches are manufactured the necessity in the interest of the health of the employees, of bringing influence to bear on the respective Governments in order that the use of poisonous phosphorus shall be prohibited by law, and that till this is accomplished it appeals to all workingmen and women to buy none but non-poisonous matches.

[30] In 2022, the Match Girls' Strike was commemorated with an English Heritage blue plaque on the former Bryant & May factory.