Mary Harris 'Mother' Jones. Labor leader, worker advocate. In October 1900 she led a march of 2,000 women from McAdoo to Coaldale to aid a six - week strike called in September by the United Mine Workers of America for higher wages, recognition, and a grievance process. Many mineworkers stopped work and joined the union. Concessions by anthracite coal operators and unmet union demands resulted in the anthracite coal strike of 1902.