Nestor, Agnes

Nestor, Agnes

(1880–1948) labor leader; born in Grand Rapids, Mich. A gloveworker in Chicago, she led her sister gloveworkers in a drive for a union shop in 1898 and became president of the all-female local in 1902. She rose through the ranks to become president of the International Gloveworkers Union (1913–15). She was also active in the National Women's Trade Union League (1913–48). Beyond her varied labor union activities, she was a highly regarded proponent of progressive social legislation and she served on various state and national boards and commissions.