A Clear Example Of Why Unions Matter!
I think everyone should see the recent “American Experience” program on PBS that told the story of the “Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire” in 1911. It has all the elements currently being repeated in America: greed, unsafe working conditions, an effort by workers to have a voice, the corruption of law enforcement, the failure of the judicial system and the loss of life that such a combination can bring about.
This documentary explaining an episode from America’s past should be a clear warning to those that think unions don’t matter and that even though you don’t belong to a union doesn’t mean you aren’t benefiting from their efforts. I urge you to check out the New York Post article in the link below as it gives a quick and fairly concise summary of the episode. Better yet, check to see when it will replay on PBS and watch it.
http://www.nypost.com/...
The following is from this article:
“Harris and Blanck continued to pack the primarily Italian and Jewish female workers into crowded spaces where they hardly had elbow room between sewing machines. The owners ordered all exits but one locked so that the women's bags could be inspected as they left to prevent them from stealing scraps of fabric and thread. When the fire broke out, they couldn't get out and were trapped behind the locked door to be burned to death.”
Here is the PBS link for additional information about this program.
http://www.pbs.org/...