Mick Mindel
Birth date
1909
Death date
1994
Biography
Mick Mindel was a leading figure in the East End's garment trade unions in the early to mid 20th century.
Mindel was the child of Jewish parents who were from a small village called Dnilavich at the North of - what was then - the Russian-Polish border. Dnilavich, which no longer exists, was located in the Vilna region. As the USSR merged and altered borders of its satellite states in 1939, Vilna became part of Lithuania. Many Polish Jews had fled the Nazis in Germany and settled in Vilna.
Mindel's parents were both socialist and passionate about fighting anti-Semitism. For much of his childhood, until 1923, Mindel and his family lived in the Rothschild Buildings in Spitalfields known for its predominantly working-class Jewish tenants and their political activity. Mick Mindel's father, Morris Mindel, was the leader of the London Worker's Circle, a group for Jewish socialists.
In around 1929, Mindel became a Communist, attending meetings and rallies. Through his activity as a young communist in London, he met and became romantically involved with the trade union organiser and Communist Sara Wesker. Mindel was 17 when he met 26-year-old Wesker. She guided him through London's garment trade unions, Jewish activism and the landscape of British communism at the time.
In 1936, Mindel was at the Battle of Cable Street, a clash between the British Union of Fascists and anti-Nazi forces in Bethnal Green, Stepney, Shoreditch and Hackney. Communists, Jews, trade unions and Irish protestors joined together to oppose Oswald Mosley's march through Jewish communities.
Mindel canvassed for communist politicians and became a leading figure in the garment trade unions whilst continuing his work in garment factories as a cutter. With Wesker's support and campaigning, Mindel was voted to be vice-chair of the United Ladies Tailors' Trade Union in 1937, rising to chair in 1938. Later on, Mindel also became the General Secretary of the National Tailors and Garment Workers Union. Throughout his time as a leader in trade unions, Mick Mindel advocated for the amalgamation of the predominantly Jewish unions he worked within with other, larger trade unions.
Through his work in the east London garment trade, Mindel met relatives of his, other 'Mindels', in the East End garment trades. Many were also immigrants from the small village of Dnilavich. Sylvia Mindel, a distant cousin of his, was one of these relatives; her father ran a clothing shop B. Mindel & Co. in Stoke Newington. Sylvia and Mick married in 1944.
Mindel was the child of Jewish parents who were from a small village called Dnilavich at the North of - what was then - the Russian-Polish border. Dnilavich, which no longer exists, was located in the Vilna region. As the USSR merged and altered borders of its satellite states in 1939, Vilna became part of Lithuania. Many Polish Jews had fled the Nazis in Germany and settled in Vilna.
Mindel's parents were both socialist and passionate about fighting anti-Semitism. For much of his childhood, until 1923, Mindel and his family lived in the Rothschild Buildings in Spitalfields known for its predominantly working-class Jewish tenants and their political activity. Mick Mindel's father, Morris Mindel, was the leader of the London Worker's Circle, a group for Jewish socialists.
In around 1929, Mindel became a Communist, attending meetings and rallies. Through his activity as a young communist in London, he met and became romantically involved with the trade union organiser and Communist Sara Wesker. Mindel was 17 when he met 26-year-old Wesker. She guided him through London's garment trade unions, Jewish activism and the landscape of British communism at the time.
In 1936, Mindel was at the Battle of Cable Street, a clash between the British Union of Fascists and anti-Nazi forces in Bethnal Green, Stepney, Shoreditch and Hackney. Communists, Jews, trade unions and Irish protestors joined together to oppose Oswald Mosley's march through Jewish communities.
Mindel canvassed for communist politicians and became a leading figure in the garment trade unions whilst continuing his work in garment factories as a cutter. With Wesker's support and campaigning, Mindel was voted to be vice-chair of the United Ladies Tailors' Trade Union in 1937, rising to chair in 1938. Later on, Mindel also became the General Secretary of the National Tailors and Garment Workers Union. Throughout his time as a leader in trade unions, Mick Mindel advocated for the amalgamation of the predominantly Jewish unions he worked within with other, larger trade unions.
Through his work in the east London garment trade, Mindel met relatives of his, other 'Mindels', in the East End garment trades. Many were also immigrants from the small village of Dnilavich. Sylvia Mindel, a distant cousin of his, was one of these relatives; her father ran a clothing shop B. Mindel & Co. in Stoke Newington. Sylvia and Mick married in 1944.
