Working ConditionsWhy was labor angry?

Working Conditions in late 1800s

As mass production increased, companies get bigger, less personal.

Workers can be fired any time for any reason Factories were uncomfortable, unsafe, dark, and dirty Hours varied from 10 to 14 hours a day, 6 days/week Injuries - if you were hurt, you were fired. No

insurance. Sweatshops - crowded and dangerous, usually refers

to textile/garment industry

QuickTime™ and a decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

Hours and Wages 14-16 hours a day 

six days a week

$1.25/day for unskilled workers

  $3/day for skilled workers

women and children received half or a third these prices

  lowered cost for owners and labor market was oversaturated

Factory Conditions Factory Conditions dark only light source was natural light few windows dangerous machinery unprotected parts (exposed)

Factory Conditions Continued

many machines being operated by few workers close together few break times (usually 1-hour break) dusty and dirty leads to lung diseases children have a lack of education, physical activity,

and sunlight leads to physical problems such as deformities in

bones, legs, etc. shorter than average people

Workplace Safety 1900 - 35,000 people died in

industrial accidents 500,000 people were injured in the

same year Most infamous incident was the

Triangle Shirtwaist Factory in New York City, a clothing sweatshop that caught on fire

Women and Children in the Labor Force

Women paid half as much as men Child Labor

Hundreds of thousands under 16 working Some states ban laborers under 12, but

these laws were ignored Kids work on machines designed for adults Kids have almost no power to stand up for

better pay, conditions

Triangle Shirtwaist Fire

Progressives Attack Workplace Reform

Triangle Shirtwaist Fire (1911) Fire breaks out in NYC garment shop Most workers are female Jewish

immigrants 146 die in fire, some by jumping out

of upper story windows Lower windows were barred and doors

were locked to prevent workers from leaving early

How It Began Doors were locked Windows on first

and second floors were barred

No breaks, no fresh air

Spark lit lint in the air on fire, and it spread rapidly

People could not escape, and the workers, mostly women, jumped out of upper windows to the streets below

146 workers perished in the fire

Police could only stand by and watch - doors were locked!

QuickTime™ and a decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

Fire escapes melted due to the intense heat and were useless

“And there was this beautiful little girl, my friend, Dora. I remember her face before she jumped.” Bessie Cohen - Worker

Triangle Shirtwaist fire Made National News

People began to look at reforms in the workplace

Unions Protest Deaths of Their Fellow Workers Unfortunately we

had to have a horrible incident to get things moving

When else has this happened?

Triangle Shirtwaist Fire

Websitehttp://www.ilr.cornell.edu/trianglefire/