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Tragedy of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire

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The Triangle shirtwaist Factory fire, mostly tagged as the most tragic disaster in the history of American Industry is actually an incomplete caption, if we do not agree on the fact that the horrendous incident was the awakening of unionisation and labour relation management. Comparison of the March 25, 1911 disaster to our present status is a big picture to gaze into, how the death of 146 garment workers (mostly ladies) turns to be the price paid for human right, still seems terrifying to me. But it was a perfect reason that reveals the significance of Labour relation practices, labour and legislations, collective bargaining and grievance and arbitrations processes that we have access to in our generation. Relating history with present, taking these points one after another in comparison practically unfolds why this incident could be taken as a case study, and it's self-explanatory why provinces here in Canada do have Employment Act and Occupational Health Safety Regulations. The United States was in the "second" Industrial revolution during which was an up rise of Immigrants from Europe. A major shift of population from the rural spreading out in so many directions to urban centers that actually expanded in five folds between 1860 and 1900 ("Industrial Revolution, " 1997-2005). This witnessed greed from factory owners and the desperate need of Immigrants for a job increased the number of "Sweatshops" around the country with low pay. Women and children work for excessively long hours in dangerous and hazardous conditions. The triangle shirtwaist factory then occupies the top 3 floors of Asch Building at the interception of the Greene street and Washington place in New York, was said to be one of the typical sweatshops. Owners Max Blank and Isaac Harris designed the layout of their sewing machine floor, placing the tables in a way to reduce conversation at work in between the ladies and foot-powered sewing machines in tight angles, people working from 7 am -8 pm. ( Frowne 1977,pp 60-61) Payment linked to the output of the worker "Piecework" system was the deal, it actually led to a breakneck speed or rather work overtime, Sub-contracted system of employment was high, greed was the order of the day, the employees then, young Jewish Immigrant were paid about $6 a week. Unsatisfactory working condition raised a reason for an unplanned work-out, a major strike led by the International Ladies Garment Workers Union (ILGWU) in the year 1909.The result was fair, but to arbitrated settlement for some workers only, the union remains unrecognised. Bringing those terrible working conditions like poor safety standards, hazardous storage of flammable materials in a massive smoking e

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