The Triangle factory fire, in which 146 workers (mostly young immigrant women) perished, marked a turning point for organized labor and worker wellbeing.
Thanks, Jill. And I appreciate your sharing about your great-grandma and her sisters. I wonder what they were doing around that time. The year before the fire, shirtwaist factory workers had just "won" a big strike, when owners agreed to workers' demands to reduce the weekly work schedule to *only* 52 hours. I'm not keen on glorifying past generations, but, dang, those young immigrants were tough. Just thinking about your great grandma (and 3 of my grandparents) leaving their homes and setting sail for America blows my mind. Of course, I'm reminded of a famous quote by an Italian immigrant: "I came to New York because I heard the streets were paved with gold. When I got here, I learned three things: The streets are not paved with gold. They are not paved at all. I am expected to pave them.”
Bob, so glad you stick with this tragedy in honor of Labor Day - should be required reading in various academic and cultural settings.
As for the cartoons - hmm, my eyes always go there - quick, usually a point made in a humorous way. Just not sure they follow "naturally" some of the topics you cover. Just keep whatever works for you coming. So glad you started Heigh Ho as are many other of your subscribers.
Very nice. I believe I did learn about this at some point in a public administration program. Kind of a shame that it takes these types of tragedies for any policy to get made or to change. I'd argue- maybe even worse in the present day!
Haunting, and hard to read. Thanks for sharing this Bob. My great-grandma was about their age. She would have just arrived off the boat from Belarus with her two sisters.
"A Nation that Catches Workers Before They Fall"
Thanks, Jill. And I appreciate your sharing about your great-grandma and her sisters. I wonder what they were doing around that time. The year before the fire, shirtwaist factory workers had just "won" a big strike, when owners agreed to workers' demands to reduce the weekly work schedule to *only* 52 hours. I'm not keen on glorifying past generations, but, dang, those young immigrants were tough. Just thinking about your great grandma (and 3 of my grandparents) leaving their homes and setting sail for America blows my mind. Of course, I'm reminded of a famous quote by an Italian immigrant: "I came to New York because I heard the streets were paved with gold. When I got here, I learned three things: The streets are not paved with gold. They are not paved at all. I am expected to pave them.”
Still as powerful today as the first time I read this. Thanks for the reminder that we still have a road to travel, Bob.
Bob, so glad you stick with this tragedy in honor of Labor Day - should be required reading in various academic and cultural settings.
As for the cartoons - hmm, my eyes always go there - quick, usually a point made in a humorous way. Just not sure they follow "naturally" some of the topics you cover. Just keep whatever works for you coming. So glad you started Heigh Ho as are many other of your subscribers.
Very nice. I believe I did learn about this at some point in a public administration program. Kind of a shame that it takes these types of tragedies for any policy to get made or to change. I'd argue- maybe even worse in the present day!
Haunting, and hard to read. Thanks for sharing this Bob. My great-grandma was about their age. She would have just arrived off the boat from Belarus with her two sisters.