-
Labor Stike
For 13 weeks there was a New York Garmet industry strike that demanded better working conditions and wages. The triangle shirtwaist factory did not give in and did not change its conditions. The strike was held two years before the factory fire. It was led be Clara Lemlich, consisted of over 20,00 people and they targeted garmet factories including the Triangle. -
Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire
From under a waist basket on the 8th floor of the Triangle shirtwaist factory a fire started just before the workers were to be let out. The fire spread very quickly to throughout the 8th, 9th and 10th floor from the poorly disposed scraps and garmets. The buiding had no fire sprinkler, a fire escape that didn't reach the ground and collapsed from the weight of workers, and even the doors were locked so the workers had no chance to escape the fire. 123 people died, only 23 were not young women -
Triangle Fire Funeral March
About 11 days after the Triangle Shirt Waist fire a funeral was held for the workers who died. The International Ladies Garmet Workers Union (ILGWU) organized a protest during the funeral. Over 100,000 people went to the funeral and marched through the streets. The fire and publicity made the ILGWU very powerful. -
Work related Deaths
1911 and 1912 were some of the worst years ever in US history for work related deaths. In 1912 18,000 to 20,000 workers died from work related deaths while in 2014 4,679 workers died and that was with a much larger populations. Work related death, wages, hours and working conditions statistically became much better since the 1910's. -
Many laws Passed after fire from 1912-1914
In New York a state legislative commission was formed to study the fire and the safety of factories. The commision was led by Robert F. Wagner and Alfred E. Smith who helped to pass laws including fire sprinklers, fire drills and unlocked and outward-swinging doors, and inspired a bill limiting work to 54 hours without overtime. They helped pass 8 laws in 1912, 25 laws in 1913 and 3 in 1914. They were inspired to pass these laws because of the public's outrage after the fire. -
Clayton Anti-Trust Act Passed
This law was passed in 1914 and protect workers by allowing them to form unions and strike peacefully -
The 19th amendment was Passed
The 19th amendment was passed in 1919 by Woodrow Wilson and allowed all women the right to vote. -
National Labor Relations Act Passed
The reform spirit from Wagner and Smith also made its way to the capital. The National Labor Relations Act or the Wagner Act, was passed in 1935, assigning rights to workers, including strengthening their right to organize and join unions. -
Fair Labor Standard Act
The Fair Labor Standards Act was passed in 1938. It established a national minimum wage and guaranteed overtime for most kinds of work beyond 40 hours a week. It also fixed minimum ages of 16 for work during school hours, 14 for certain jobs after school, and 18 for dangerous work. -
Centennial Commemoration
In 2011 a centennial commemoration of the fire was held. Just shorlty before the commemoration the names of the last 6 victims were found so now all 146 dead would finally be read. The commemoration drew in thousands of people and many held shirtwaist with the names of the workers who died.
