The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire of 1911

1
The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire of 1911

• October 18, 2005

2
Background of the Fire

• Triangle Shirtwaist Factory was a typical sweat
  factory located at the Asch Building in Manhatten
• The factory employed primarily women
• These women worked long hours in unsanitary and
  dangerous conditions
• Max Blanck and and Isaac Harris were the owners
  of the factory and subcontracted the work to
  individuals

3
Background of the Fire

• Subcontractors decided worker wages
• They pocketed a lot of the profits
• Owners didnt know wages or number of workers
• Lots of exploitation

4

5
Background of the Fire

• Subcontractors took advantage of new immigrants
• Insufficient wages to pay high rents
• Children were hired in violation of child labor
  laws

6
(No Transcript)
7
Union Resistance

• The International Ladies Garment Workers Union
• 1909 walkout of 400 employees at Triangle Factory
• At a meeting at Cooper Union, thousands of
  garment workers followed Clara Lemlichs call for
  a general strike
• Strike helped establish a grievance system
• Many owners still disregarded workers rights

8
Local 25 Ladies Waist and Dress Makers Union

9
Ladies at City Hall

10
The Fire

• On March 25, 1911 a fire broke out on the top
  floors of the Asch Building
• Doors on the ninth floor were locked owners said
  workers stole materials
• Many workers were forced to jump out of windows
  so they wouldnt burn to death
• People passing by saw workers fall to their deaths

11

12
The Fire

• Ladders could only reach to the 6th floor
• Hoses couldnt reach the top floors
• 146 of the 500 employees died
• New York City would never be the same

13
Ninth Floor of Asch Building

14
Tenth Floor of Asch Building

15
(No Transcript)
16
(No Transcript)
17
(No Transcript)
18

19

20
Public Reaction to Fire

• People demanded restitution, justice, and action
  be taken
• Outraged cries called for improving unsafe
  working conditions
• Ladies Waist and Dress Makers Union Local No.
  25 planned relief for survivors and families of
  victims

21
Public Reaction to Fire

• Local 25 organized rally for workers
• They distributed weekly pensions, cared for young
  workers and children, and secured work and proper
  living conditions
• This wasnt easy

22
The Factory Investigating Commission

• Appointed by New York governor within a month of
  fire
• For five years the commission conducted a series
  of hearings that led to passage of important
  factory legislation
• Also helped create better standards of sanitation
  in New York factories

23
Justice?

• Blanck and Harris were acquitted of any wrong
  doing
• Owners claimed they didnt know the doors had
  been locked
• They ended up only paying 75 for each life lost
  in the fire

24
The Fires Place in History

• The disaster touched off a national movement for
  safer working conditions, led to the creation of
  health and safety legislation, and helped shape
  future labor laws

25
Resources

• http//www2.lhric.org/wh/wh4.html
• http//www.csun.edu/ghy7463/mw2.html
• http//www.francesfarmersrevenge.com/stuff/archive
  /oldnews3/triangle.htm
• http//www.ilr.cornell.edu/trianglefire/