The Triangle FireThe Triangle Fire

Current Labor LawsCurrent Labor Laws Write down three labor laws that Write down three labor laws that

protect you as an employee.protect you as an employee.

We take these laws for granted, others We take these laws for granted, others suffered…suffered…

What happened?What happened? Near closing time on Saturday afternoon,

March 25, 1911, a fire broke out on the top floors of the Asch Building in the Triangle Waist Company.

Within minutes, the quiet spring afternoon erupted into madness, a terrifying moment in time, disrupting forever the lives of young workers.

By the time the fire was over, 146 of the 500 employees had died.

About the About the Triangle Waist Company

Sweat ShopSweat Shop Located in ManhattanLocated in Manhattan Low wagesLow wages Excessively long hoursExcessively long hours Unsanitary and dangerous working Unsanitary and dangerous working

conditionsconditions

About the About the Triangle Waist Company

Employees were teenage girls Recent immigrants Spoke only little English

Why did this happen and why couldn’t the employees escape from the building?

Why?Why? Many doors were lockedMany doors were locked The ninth floor fire escape led The ninth floor fire escape led

nowherenowhere Firefighters' ladders were several Firefighters' ladders were several

stories too short stories too short Water from the hoses could not Water from the hoses could not

reach top floorsreach top floors Many chose to jump to their deathsMany chose to jump to their deaths

What happened after?What happened after? Public wondered if tragedy could have Public wondered if tragedy could have

been preventedbeen prevented Protesting voices arose Protesting voices arose Demanded restitution and justice Demanded restitution and justice Call for action to improve the conditionsCall for action to improve the conditions

Unions were formed to achieve the Unions were formed to achieve the rights of workersrights of workers

Why are Labor Laws so Why are Labor Laws so important?important?

Discuss with neighborDiscuss with neighbor

Could this ever happen again? Why Could this ever happen again? Why or why not?or why not?

Your AssignmentYour Assignment Research the Triangle Fire (see Research the Triangle Fire (see

websites on next slide)websites on next slide)

Create a brochure in Publisher that Create a brochure in Publisher that explains current labor laws and the explains current labor laws and the Triangle Fire (what were the Triangle Fire (what were the outcomes, how did NYS change, etc.)outcomes, how did NYS change, etc.)

Could this tragedy happen again?Could this tragedy happen again?

WebsitesWebsites http://http://www.ilr.cornell.edu/trianglefirewww.ilr.cornell.edu/trianglefire//

http://http://www.english.uiuc.edu/maps/poets/m_r/pinswww.english.uiuc.edu/maps/poets/m_r/pinsky/triangle.htmky/triangle.htm

http://http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storwww.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyIdyId=1416870=1416870

http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/fthttp://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/triangle/trianglefire.htmlrials/triangle/trianglefire.html