Why the triangle fire gave future workers and unions the idea to strike for better working condintions - Research Paper Example

The fire in the factory took lives of 146 men and women, most of them in their teens.2 The incident triggered whole nation as it was not only failure of management who couldn’t provide better working conditions but also failure of the government in its ability to monitor the safety and well being of the people working in these factories. Industrial revolution was on a song during the period when more and more factories were built to produce garments and more women, mostly immigrants, were employed in these factories who silently worked in hazardous and dangerous working conditions.

Most of the industries relied more and more on machinery which required human assistance to run and business owners depended on workers to stand in assembly lines, to throw switches and to turn gears so as to produce more output at low cost.3 The unsanitary conditions in the factory forced to workers to form a group and call a strike in 1909 of which 80 percent were women, demanding higher wages, few working hours and formation of union, an organization that would work towards improving the working conditions of employees. . ed a committee to investigate about worker health, safety, well being, physical conditions of work, wages, hours, child labor, and even issues such as mandatory education, cleanliness, and toilet facilities.

The loss of life by the fire incident gave rise to a movement to reform the safety rights of workers. The tragedy created outrage among worker community forcing the government to address workplace safety and create a Fire Department Prevention Division so as to eliminate the risk of fire hazards in cities sweatshops.7 The fire triggered sense among the people who looked upon the labor unions for protection and workplace safety resulting in dramatic rise in the membership of unions. The idea of providing better working conditions triggered state wide protests with union leaders carrying strikes for better pay, reduced number of hours, hygienic conditions and safety measures.

Women organizations also formed which followed the incident and worked towards additional safety procedures and working conditions for women workers. The new law enacted which is called ‘Wagner Labor Act’ provided new and enforced laws like mandated sprinkler systems, fire escapes, education and prevention, no unlocking of door during working hours, etc along with protecting working in the unions and reduced the working hours to 54 hours for women and children apart from other safety regulations8.

The labor act provided workers with information about their rights which became a motivation factor for most of the strikes carried out later on in the city. Women grew stronger and braver fighting for the cause of their rights which was evident during Philadelphia shirtwaist strike where women’s were more involved in the struggle to determine their goals, even in defiance of their union leaders