"100th anniversary of fatal N.Y. factory fire becomes rallying point for unions" by Associated Press / March 26, 2011
NEW YORK — The centennial commemoration of the deadly Triangle Shirtwaist factory fire became a rally for organized labor yesterday, as hundreds marched and vowed to resist efforts to weaken unions in state capitals across the country. Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer drew loud cheers when he pledged to fight “right-wing ideologues’’ trying to curb worker protections.
Just what we need: a opportunistic politician using the moment.
The rally took place outside the former Triangle factory building, which burned March 25, 1911....
Spooky seeing those numbers grouped together like that. Another day of fire in New York City.
The Triangle fire killed 146 people and helped to galvanize the US labor movement. The victims were mostly young immigrant women, many of whom jumped to their deaths to escape the flames. The tragedy prompted many improvements in fire safety across the country, such as sprinkler installation and laws mandating fire drills.
Triangle was pre-Titanic.
Why i$ thi$ alway$ the way? Governments ignore citizen complaints until it is way too late and are left in a reactionary mode.
Days after the fire, 100,000 mourners marched in a funeral procession through the streets of New York, while another 250,000 lined the route. Their grief built support for the right of garment workers to unionize....
Speakers repeatedly criticized Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker, who pushed through legislation earlier this month to eliminate public workers’ right to collective bargaining. The new law has been temporarily blocked by a county judge....
Except a different agency published the thing and the law is set to take effect.
Country sure has that fascist feel to it these days.
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