Triangle: The Fire That Changed America

On the afternoon of March 25, 1911, a fire broke out in a 10-story ash building located in the east of Washington Square in Manhattan. This is the place where 500 young immigrant girls make shirts for Triangle Shirtwaist. It will be consumed on the 3rd floor of the building within a few minutes. On-site firefighters could not save people trapped inside: their ladder was not high enough. The exit was sealed off and a narrow fire ran away. Many panicked people jumped out of the window and died.

Fondrail, David. Triangle: New York that changes the flame of the United States: Atlantic Monthly, 2003 triangular fire in 1911 - the most deadly workplace fire in the American history, and evolution of the sweat shaker and the initial turning point of government labor regulation - Crisp and informative explanation

In his book "Triangle: Changing America's Fire", the author David von Drehle sweatshops (sweatshops) as the owner of "sweat" workers to keep their seats by accepting lower wages and standards as they know . If they refuse to hire workers at a trade union's workplace, it will be replaced by cheaper, less protected workers. I am a SEIU union organizer in Southern California and organized security experts outside the union of all other unions Kaiser Permanente. These guards are low wages, low standard islands. Finally, the workers walked day after day, met with thousands of union brothers and sisters outside the Sunset Boulevard Kaiser site. This has enabled employers to believe that employers who respect workers are better in their quality of work and patient care and safety. It was replaced because the contractor refused

At the turning point of the US in the 20th century, deaths at work were a very common phenomenon. Triangle shirt factory has become spectacular, inspiring New York City is not only the end country is not only a large number of victims, but also how the tragedy appears in thousands of witnesses during the day, impressed It is a street block. Journalists and labor organizations reveal the obvious overwhelming evidence that they can pursue the truth without mercy, interview surveillance testimonies, publish, and prevent fire and death

This Friday, March 25, celebrated its 100th anniversary at Triangle Shirtwaist, 146 workers died. Most of them were Jewish and Italian immigrant women. HBO started broadcasting their homage documentary "Triangle: Remembering the Fire" tonight, and the internet is full of explanations and memories of this incident. The 100th anniversary celebration is not only to remind us of unnecessary tragedies and the ongoing need to protect the most vulnerable groups in society, especially the forces that influence the change.