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The Triangle Fire. Current Labor Laws. Write down three labor laws that protect you as an employee. We take these laws for granted, others suffered…. What happened?.
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Current Labor Laws • Write down three labor laws that protect you as an employee. We take these laws for granted, others suffered…
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 Triangle Waist Company • Sweat Shop • Located in Manhattan • Low wages • Excessively long hours • Unsanitary and dangerous working conditions
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? • Many doors were locked • The ninth floor fire escape led nowhere • Firefighters' ladders were several stories too short • Water from the hoses could not reach top floors • Many chose to jump to their deaths
What happened after? • Public wondered if tragedy could have been prevented • Protesting voices arose • Demanded restitution and justice • Call for action to improve the conditions • Unions were formed to achieve the rights of workers
Why are Labor Laws so important? • Discuss with neighbor • Could this ever happen again? Why or why not?
Your Assignment • Research the Triangle Fire (see websites on next slide) • Create a brochure in Publisher that explains current labor laws and the Triangle Fire (what were the outcomes, how did NYS change, etc.) • Could this tragedy happen again?
Websites • http://www.ilr.cornell.edu/trianglefire/ • http://www.english.uiuc.edu/maps/poets/m_r/pinsky/triangle.htm • http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1416870 • http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/triangle/trianglefire.html