Today marks the 100th anniversary of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire. In this tragedy 146 workers, mostly immigrant women and children, lost their life. The only reason -- they showed up to work.
In order to increase profits, the owners of the Triangle Shirtwaist factory locked the workers inside the factory, trapping them to their death. This moment in history reminds us of the important role unions play in society – ensuring safe and humane working conditions for all.
“Today we are facing our own tragedy in Wisconsin,” explained Stephanie Bloomingdale, Secretary-Treasurer of the Wisconsin State AFL-CIO. “Scott Walker is attempting to roll back 100 years of worker protections and strip Wisconsinites of their voice on the job. Gov. Walker wants to take us back to a time when the Triangle Shirtwaist factory conditions were common. To a time when there were no worker protections. Thankfully, hundreds of thousands of Wisconsinites are standing up across the state to oppose his radical agenda.”
Despite the enormous progress that has been made in the 100 years since the Triangle fire -- many of the issues raised persist in the workplace. Issues such as worker safety, treatment of women and immigrant workers and, as we have seen for weeks in Wisconsin, the right to collectively bargain.
“The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire showed what can happen when employers refuse to work with unions,” says Chad Goldberg, vice president of United Faculty & Academic Staff (UFAS), AFT Local 223 which represents staff at UW-Madison and UW-Extension. “Walker is turning the clock back in Wisconsin, refusing to work with unions or allow public employees to bargain over working conditions.”
A hundred years ago the Triangle spurred a rebirth in the labor movement. Today, Gov. Walker and Sen. Republican attacks are inspiring a similar rebirth in the fight for worker rights.
“The Triangle fire led to the growth of the garment workers’ union and the strengthening of fire, health, and labor regulations.” continues Goldberg. “Today in Wisconsin, we’re seeing the same kind of public mobilization to defend workers’ rights and the public services on which working families depend.”
Click to view "TRIANGLE'S ECHOES: The Unfinished Struggle for Worker Protection, Safety and Health."
Corporate America caused this economical mess, not Working America, so why are Republicans taking it out on the working people??? Idiots!
Posted by: Ron Zito | 03/25/2011 at 01:36 PM
Van Jones at a rally "after" 9/11 and telling the audience that America deserved this one!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ZjD-Km1C6Y&feature=player_embedded
Posted by: TaterSalad | 03/25/2011 at 03:02 PM
The Democratic Party of the U.S., known as the Food Stamp Party has now been infiltrated by known Communists and they even admit it:
http://newzeal.blogspot.com/2010/11/comrade-atkins-admits-communist.html
Posted by: TaterSalad | 03/27/2011 at 01:30 PM
Even the Communists are/were surprised by the radicalization of Wisconsin demorcrats and liberal minded workers towards communism! Now they should know why the American people are against them!
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/scary-even-communists-surprised-at-radicalization-of-wis-dems/
Posted by: TaterSalad | 03/28/2011 at 04:27 PM
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