One hundred years ago today a fire broke out in a factory in New York City, creating an inferno from which those above the sixth floor had little possibility for escape. This event and others, led to labor unions and establishing the rights of workers. There is much to be done to preserve those rights, for those who still have jobs. We arrived at this point with a sorrowful history and much loss of life. The Triangle Shirtwaist Company fire on March 25, 1911, took 146 lives, most of whom were young girls and women, some locked in a ninth floor room whose only chance for escape were the windows. Many jumped to their deaths.
Here is the story regarding this event. I think it's important to remember:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110322/ap_on_re_us/us_triangle_fire_remembered
So often the media does not show the images which truly illustrate the events and their ramifications. In many cases, especially those involving our own political stage (and it is a stage), they still tend to show a very limited perspective that's meant to keep people in the dark, or present a view they wish to promulgate. It seems that every time there is something of significance happening, something that could turn the tide for the lives of individuals here in this country, yet another war breaks out or a new situation is presented that leaves the old story in the dust and, lo and behold, our attention is turned to the new story that's unfolding.
Today I want to honor the 146 lost to unthinkably poor practices in the workplace and those who are still fighting to preserve the rights of all workers.
New York City, March 1911
Wisconsin, March, 2011
Right on, Teresa! I also agree that these must be remembered. Thank you for bringing my attention to the significance of this date. I'm sitting in the San Francisco Airport using their 45 minutes of free WiFi...
ReplyDeleteSo sad
ReplyDeletewe learn by our mistakes.. and martyrs..
Thank you for this post! It's easy to think, "Oh, this would never happen now." But there are so many ways that people can be exploited and endangered.
ReplyDeleteThank you for telling it like it is...you're so right about the media...or as I like to call it the propaganda machine. It seems that the coverage of the tragedy in Japan was a diversion to what was taking place in Libya. I feel used. War took the place of what should have been reports of our humanitarianism.
ReplyDeleteI too would like to honor the many that fight on behalf of workers in America...most of which are getting the shaft. Thanks for making an awareness...now this is what I call blogging.
The images above are good to see...it gives one pause...to really see the importance of life and its delicacy. I would rather see us as being humanitarians rather than cops policing the world...a country where the importance of all humans equally has a chance rather than just the few.
Well said. The people and the corporations and the government...a necessary evil, a bitter triangle, the people must always fight for their rights. Always.
ReplyDeleteOf course it must be remembered!
ReplyDeleteHurrah for the unions. We (the US population in general) absolutely take for granted all of the enormous advantages we enjoy thanks to the unions. No way could I list them all here...wages, hours, child labor restrictions, workplace safety, grievance hearing and redressal, on and on. Unfortunately, many new school reading lists have incorporated recent literature and dropped classics like "The Jungle" and Zola's "Germinal", so the new generations have no clue as to what conditions used to be like. (Although, as I recall, the unions weren't always portrayed in a positive light.)
ReplyDeleteSorry Teresa, I shouldn't be venting! I'm glad you did this post, as a fitting memorial to those workers. May they not be forgotten.
I came over here just in time. I just had a conversation with someone ranting about lazy union workers (who did he think he was talking to??) and then he bragged about getting a great deal on flooring by paying cash so the installer wouldn't have to pay taxes. You have counterweighted my brain before it flew out of my head.
ReplyDeleteWhat a stunning reminder of the complete story. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteI want to thank each of you for contributing to this post with your comments.
ReplyDeleteJerry, I'm glad you stopped by....
That was so tragic BUT that made people aware that fire protection laws were needed.Now businesses have very rigid fire laws, capacity of people in a room, sprinklers, fire exits, etc. When I turned the ranch into a Bed and Breakfast I even had to change the furnace to comply with the fire law. The fire inspector came to my house with photos of the aftermath of fires. They scare the bejebbers out of you. We were so aware of the fire laws. All businesses and public buildings go through this now. Too bad people had to give their lives for this to occur.
ReplyDeleteManzi, It seems to be the way of the world, or at least this country. People have to give their lives for us to learn lessons that should have been learned through commonsense and decency towards our fellow beings. But, apparently, it isn't the American Way. Sorry, my mood needs elevating...
ReplyDeleteI am an old fireman (retired) . My younger brother was a fireman and our Dad was a Deputy Sheriff. I have been in unions (IAFF is one). I always favored working with the city not trying to blunderbuss it financially. There are greedy people in unions and greedy bureaucrats.
ReplyDeleteThe Triangle fire is remembered by firemen everywhere. Those women who died were indeed martyrs. Sadly, laws are most often made after the fact as with the Triangle tragedy, but the new laws did save other lives in the future.
Thank you, Paul, for your input here. Much appreciated.
ReplyDeleteGreat reminder, Teresa. Because of my family's coal mining heritage, these events are very real to me. Ludlow, Matewan, Harlan County (my home)are shrines to the struggle of our people. Proud to be a union coal miner's son.
ReplyDeleteCletis, Every time I drive by the sign for the site of the Ludlow Massacre, I feel a pang, and there's a very good movie called "Matewan," Have you seen it? I thought you might have a good understanding of this struggle and the reminders....
ReplyDeleteThank you for reminding us what happened on this infamous date. Each year I get the chills. How those poor people suffered. I'd like to say we learned from their suffering, but not enough, apparently, from a similar fate for many at a chicken nugget plant in North Carolina about 10 years ago. I haven't eaten nuggets since!
ReplyDeleteKittie, I am completely unfamiliar with the incident you relate. Shame on me. How many others, too. So little thought given to workers....
ReplyDelete