The inaugural meeting of  The Union of Women Match Makers took place at Stepney Meeting Hall. Twelve women were elected and Sarah Chapman was made the President. Soon after, on 4 August, the first enrolment of Union members took place, which resulted in 468 new Unionists . On the 4 August, The Link reported the following from the enrolment meeting:
 
“A break in the proceedings was caused by a very kind and pretty act of the girls, the presentation of a little gold brooch to Annie Besant, and of a scarf-pin each to Herbert Burrows and H. W. Hobart (unfortunately absent), as memorials of the victory-crowned struggle”
 
The Union Committee: Eliza Martin, Louisa Beck, Julia Gambleton, Jane Wakeling, Jane Staines, Eliza Price, Mrs Mary Naulls, Kate Sclater, Ellen Johnson, Sarah Chapman, Polly (Mary) Driscoll, Alice Francis
 
Soon after, the Union changed its name to The Matchmaker’s Union and welcomed both male and female members. Sarah Chapman was the first elected TUC representative from the newly formed Matchmakers’ Union. The International TUC was held in London at St Andrew’s Hall in Newman Street, and Sarah went with Annie Besant, where she was one of only 77 delegates. What an experience that must have been for her. Nobody attended the TUC in 1889 but in 1890, again, Sarah went, this time to Liverpool, where, among almost 500 delegates, she was one of only 10 women. As an indication of how confident she must have felt at this time, she is recorded as having seconded a motion in relation to The Truck Act.
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It is no surprise that the Great Dock Strike took place only a year later. Many of the Matchgirls had family members that were Dockers and it doesn't need too much imagination to see how their victory inspired their fathers, brothers and husbands to follow suit. Ultimately, these two strikes led to the formation and growth of the labour movement and Labour Party itself.