A TALENTED Halesowen trade unionist has penned a book about the Cradley Heath Chainmakers' Strike of 1910.

Tony Barnsley's book Martha's Story will be officially launched at the first Mary Macarthur Lecture in Blackheath on Friday, March 6.

Martha's Story is sponsored by the Teachers' Union NASUWT and is a diary of an 11-year-old girl living in Cradley Heath who works with her family making chains.

Set in 1910 Martha's Story captures the events of the historic chainmakers' strike through the eyes of Martha, who experienced the fight that saw mainly women workers in Cradley Heath take on their sweatshop bosses and beat them to more than double their wages.

Mr Barnsley, joint secretary for Sandwell's Unison branch, said: "Martha's diary is a fictional story written for children to appreciate the excitement of downing tools, going on demonstrations and the power of sticking together.

"Whilst not being at work Martha and her family have the adventure of their lives, they visit new Towns and Cities, go to the Theatre for the first time and visit Cadbury's chocolate factory."

He added: "And Martha's nan becomes a celebrity and gets thrown into jail and after winning the strike Martha's family's lives improve for the better with event West Bromwich Albion appearing to win every game."

He added: "The book is an uplifting and inspirational story about the power of trade unions in fighting against inequality."

The Mary Macarthur lecture will be given at Blackheath Coronation Club by TUC General Secretary Frances O'Grady, the first female General Secretary in the history of the TUC.

The 2015 Women Chainmakers' festival will be on Sunday, July 12, and is organised by Midlands TUC at Bearmore Mound Playing Fields, Cradley Heath, and there will be a march along Cradley High Street.

The festival celebrates the achievements of 800 or so women chainmakers who fought to establish a minimum wage for their labour.