100 years since the New York International Ladies’ Garment Workers’ Union's strike

Post by **spot** » Wed Dec 02, 2009 3:52 am

The Uprising of 20,000 and the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire

"throughout New York’s garment district, more than 15,000 shirtwaist makers walked out. They demanded a 20-percent pay raise, a 52-hour workweek and extra pay for overtime. The local union, along with the Women’s Trade Union League, held meetings in English and Yiddish at dozens of halls to discuss plans for picketing. When picketing began the following day, more than 20,000 workers from 500 factories had walked out. More than 70 of the smaller factories agreed to the union’s demands within the first 48 hours."

Given the way unions are disparaged these days, does anyone have an opinion on this particular strike? Was there justification? Were there alternative ways of seeking relief from the working conditions?

Ahso! · Post by **Ahso!** » Wed Dec 02, 2009 4:34 am

Quite a story! Considering all the disadvantages women faced during then and even now still, females can be encouraged by the efforts of their gender.

I don't know if there would have been any other way of settling the issues short of killing the owners of the factories.

Bastards, all of them!

K.Snyder · Post by **K.Snyder** » Wed Dec 02, 2009 6:17 am

spot;1268427 wrote: The Uprising of 20,000 and the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire

"throughout New York’s garment district, more than 15,000 shirtwaist makers walked out. They demanded a 20-percent pay raise, a 52-hour workweek and extra pay for overtime. The local union, along with the Women’s Trade Union League, held meetings in English and Yiddish at dozens of halls to discuss plans for picketing. When picketing began the following day, more than 20,000 workers from 500 factories had walked out. More than 70 of the smaller factories agreed to the union’s demands within the first 48 hours."

Given the way unions are disparaged these days, does anyone have an opinion on this particular strike? Was there justification? Were there alternative ways of seeking relief from the working conditions?

First of all, if any government is more involved in the practices of commercial businesses this horrific tragedy, among countless others during the time period lest we forget, there wouldn't have been such a large onslaught of deaths.

It's entirely how you get commercial airplanes flying into buildings at the risk of derailing the thread.

Sadly it takes horrendous tragedies to get people riled up enough to make a change but that still doesn't mean it should be left up to the people to change what can easily be achieved by law. Especially when people "as young as age 15, worked seven days a week, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. with a half-hour lunch break. During the busy season, the work was nearly non-stop. They were paid about $6 per week. In some cases, they were required to use their own needles, thread, irons and occasionally their own sewing machines." Not to mention having to do all of it with the flue and irritable bowl syndrome! "The factories also were unsanitary, or as a young striker explained, “unsanitary—that’s the word that is generally used, but there ought to be a worse one used.” At the Triangle factory, women had to leave the building to use the bathroom, so management began locking the steel exit doors to prevent the “interruption of work” and only the foreman had the key."The Uprising of 20,000 and the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire

Yes, I know, "communism" seems to have a place in this but only if one's uninformed enough to not give a damn.

I couldn't think of a better government from which the people become it's number one entity as opposed to capital gains. It's called socialism but alot hate the idea of being friendly to one and the other so they hear "communism" any time it's mentioned!

along-for-the-ride · Post by **along-for-the-ride** » Wed Dec 02, 2009 4:37 pm

Images from that terrible tragedy:

Triangle Fire: Photograph

fuzzywuzzy · Post by **fuzzywuzzy** » Wed Dec 02, 2009 4:59 pm

Oh please!!!! We still live in a patriarchal society .....they allow a few women in but their job is to keep the rest of us women down.

Even the Unions do it. You gonna tell me this isn't happening all over the place STILL? It just happens in private homes and offices now our days. and even children are involved.

so what's changed?

Post by **spot** » Wed Dec 02, 2009 5:16 pm

Equal Opportunities legislation and votes for women, essentially.

fuzzywuzzy · Post by **fuzzywuzzy** » Wed Dec 02, 2009 5:23 pm

spot;1268807 wrote: Equal Opportunities legislation and votes for women, essentially.

Oh effing bullsHite.................what equal opportunities? women still earn at the very end 30% less than men world wide for doing exactly the same job. ..........dont make me laugh!!!!! less

I imagined when you wrote "Equal opportunities" I could see the smirk on your face.:p

fuzzywuzzy · Post by **fuzzywuzzy** » Wed Dec 02, 2009 5:25 pm

spot;1268807 wrote: Equal Opportunities legislation and votes for women, essentially.

Voting rights or votes for women? Lets get this straight.

Post by **spot** » Wed Dec 02, 2009 5:46 pm

fuzzywuzzy;1268810 wrote: Oh effing bullsHite.................what equal opportunities? women still earn at the very end 30% less than men world wide for doing exactly the same job. I don't think the majority of women worldwide have the advantage of Equal Opportunities legislation.

fuzzywuzzy;1268811 wrote: Voting rights or votes for women? Lets get this straight.

The franchise has been extended since 1909 to include women equally with men. In the US and UK and Canada and Australia, at least. The Swiss already had it.