2. Working Conditions Why was labor angry?

3. 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

4. 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

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

6. 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

8. 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

14. 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

21. Triangle Shirtwaist Fire Progressives Attack Workplace Reform

22. 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

23. 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

24. People could not escape, and the workers, mostly women, jumped out of upper windows to the streets below 146 workers perished in the fire

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

26. Fire escapes melted due to the intense heat and were useless

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

28. Triangle Shirtwaist fire Made National News People began to look at reforms in the workplace

29. Unions Protest Deaths of Their Fellow Workers Unfortunately we had to have a horrible incident to get things moving When else has this happened?

30. Triangle Shirtwaist Fire Website http://www.ilr.cornell.edu/trianglefire/