1. The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire of 1911

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 didn’t know wages or number of workers
Lots of exploitation

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

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 Lemlich’s 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 wouldn’t burn to death
People passing by saw workers fall to their deaths

12. The Fire Ladders could only reach to the 6th floor
Hoses couldn’t 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

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 wasn’t 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 didn’t know the doors had been locked
They ended up only paying $75 for each life lost in the fire

24. The Fire’s 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