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The Triangle Waist Company fire on March 25, 1911, claimed 146 lives and exposed the horrific working conditions faced by young immigrants in sweatshops. Locked doors, inadequate fire escapes, and neglect led to this tragedy, sparking public outrage and a demand for change. This event underlined the necessity of labor laws which protect employee rights and ensure safer working environments. Today, we have laws addressing workplace safety, fair wages, and reasonable hours. It’s crucial to understand these protections to prevent such tragedies from ever occurring again.
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Current Labor Laws • Write down three labor laws that protect you as an employee. We take these laws for granted, others suffered…
What happened? • Near closing time on Saturday afternoon, March 25, 1911, a fire broke out on the top floors of the Asch Building in the Triangle Waist Company. • Within minutes, the quiet spring afternoon erupted into madness, a terrifying moment in time, disrupting forever the lives of young workers. • By the time the fire was over, 146 of the 500 employees had died.
About the Triangle Waist Company • Sweat Shop • Located in Manhattan • Low wages • Excessively long hours • Unsanitary and dangerous working conditions
About the Triangle Waist Company • Employees were teenage girls • Recent immigrants • Spoke only little English Why did this happen and why couldn’t the employees escape from the building?
Why? • Many doors were locked • The ninth floor fire escape led nowhere • Firefighters' ladders were several stories too short • Water from the hoses could not reach top floors • Many chose to jump to their deaths
What happened after? • Public wondered if tragedy could have been prevented • Protesting voices arose • Demanded restitution and justice • Call for action to improve the conditions • Unions were formed to achieve the rights of workers
Why are Labor Laws so important? • Discuss with neighbor • Could this ever happen again? Why or why not?
Your Assignment • Research the Triangle Fire (see websites on next slide) • Create a brochure in Publisher that explains current labor laws and the Triangle Fire (what were the outcomes, how did NYS change, etc.) • Could this tragedy happen again?
Websites • http://www.ilr.cornell.edu/trianglefire/ • http://www.english.uiuc.edu/maps/poets/m_r/pinsky/triangle.htm • http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1416870 • http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/triangle/trianglefire.html