Women, clothing, immigration, and labor

1
Women, clothing,immigration, and labor

• A brief history of the womens labor movement in
  the garment industry

2
Immigrant women

• Predominance of labor force in the garment
  industry
• Late 19th / early 20th centuries - Jewish, Irish,
  Polish, Italian women
• Mid-20th century/ early 21st century - Latinas,
  Asian women

3
Sweatshop conditions also predominate(LA -67
NYC - 63 of the garment workers work in these
conditions

• Locked doors
• No bathroom breaks
• Testing to prevent pregnancy
• Withhold pay
• Non-payment of payroll taxes (social security,
  disability, and unemployment)

4
Triangle Shirtwaist factory fire

• March 25, 1911
• Low wages, long hours
• Work is subcontracted
• Unsafe working conditions crowded beyond
  capacity, locked doors

5
Fire caused over 400 deaths and thousands more
were injured

• Some workers as young as 15
• Learning ways of new country
• Difficulties with language
• Poor level of education
• International Ladies Garment Workers Union was
  forged into a powerful organizing force
• Jury acquitted owners of any culpability