working conditions why was labor angry? working conditions in late 1800s as mass production...
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Working ConditionsWhy was labor angry?
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
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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
Factory Conditions Factory Conditions dark only light source was natural light few windows dangerous machinery unprotected parts (exposed)
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
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
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
Triangle Shirtwaist Fire
Progressives Attack Workplace Reform
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
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
People could not escape, and the workers, mostly women, jumped out of upper windows to the streets below
146 workers perished in the fire
Police could only stand by and watch - doors were locked!
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Fire escapes melted due to the intense heat and were useless
“And there was this beautiful little girl, my friend, Dora. I remember her face before she jumped.” Bessie Cohen - Worker
Triangle Shirtwaist fire Made National News
People began to look at reforms in the workplace
Unions Protest Deaths of Their Fellow Workers Unfortunately we
had to have a horrible incident to get things moving
When else has this happened?
Triangle Shirtwaist Fire
Websitehttp://www.ilr.cornell.edu/trianglefire/