Friday will be the 100th anniversary of the fire at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory in New York, a fire that killed nearly 200 people, almost all women and children, and that sparked - so to speak - the organized labor movement in the United States.
Considering the current backlash against collective bargaining, I think it's crucial to remember the reasons for labor unions; fair wages, safe working conditions, the 40 hour workweek... in other words, a working world where the lives of the individuals who perform the labor are valued.
If you've read Invisible Sisters, you know why the ILGWU - now Workers United - is so important to me, my family, and a particular generation of Americans and their offspring.
Here's a link to the Remember the Triangle Coalition .
Here's a link to an article that says what I'd say if I'd written it.
There are plenty of other resources about it, including my friend Katharine Weber's wonderful novel, Triangle .
Take this time to pay some respect to the lives that were lost a hundred years ago, and the working lives that are being shortchanged today.
Photo fm The New Deal Network
5 comments:
The late 1800s and early 1900s make up my favorite period of American history. I attended most of my undergrad classes in the Triangle Shirtwaist building (NYU) and thought about the fire frequently.
I had no idea Katharine Weber had a book called TRIANGLE--I'm surely adding that to my to-read list.
Thanks for the thoughtful post!
Oops--Jim was still signed into my computer when I wrote that note. This is actually Janet G.! :)
"The late 1800s and early 1900s make up my favorite period of American history. I attended most of my undergrad classes in the Triangle Shirtwaist building (NYU) and thought about the fire frequently.
I had no idea Katharine Weber had a book called TRIANGLE--I'm surely adding that to my to-read list.
Thanks for the thoughtful post!"
That's so funny; I was wondering who Diego was!!
Thanks for the reminder on this. Michael Cunningham's novel "Specimen Days" begins with characters involved in the Triangle fire and then follows their re-incarnations way into the future. Have you read it?
I'd forgotten about "Specimen Days!" Thanks for the reminder!
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