In this time of state governments in the U.S. engaging in the removal of collective bargaining of its employees and reductions in funding for higher education and many other programs and services, it might be useful to remember why workers organized and formed unions. Today, there will be a commemoration ceremony outside of the Brown building of the NYU complex of buildings that takes up the whole block at Washington Place and Greene Street. The Wikipedia entry on the Brown building provides more background; see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brown_Building_%28Manhattan%29
Prior to being owned by NYU, the Brown building was known as the Asch building was a "loft" building where light industry such as clothes making took place. The Triangle Shirtwaist Company was located on the top 3 floors of the 10 story building and made the then stylist "shirtwaist" garment popular with young women. The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory employed mostly young woman of Jewish and Italian ancestry and who worked under demeaning and dangerous conditions. How dangerous was revealed 100 years ago on this date when 146 people lost their lives, mainly because the factory had a policy of locking the doors during working hours to prevent people from leaving the floor. When the fire started, it spread quickly and killed quickly. About 50 women decided that it would be better to jump from the 8th floor to the ground than to be burned alive. NYC would see comparable escapes on 9/11 when people in the WTC tower above the impact point also decided that it would be better to jump to the ground than to be burned alive. The NY Time has a special page with links to various articles and resources for the remembrance; see: http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/subjects/t/triangle_shirtwaist_factory_fire/index.html?scp=2&sq=Triangle%20Shirtwaist%20Co&st=cse The Kheel Center at Cornell U maintains a website devoted to the fire which can be accessed here: http://www.ilr.cornell.edu/trianglefire/ and here: http://www.ilr.cornell.edu/trianglefire/aboutThisSite.html If anyone needs to be additionally reminded why folks need to organize against autocratic business leaders and their cronies in political office, consider that if you worked in the U.S. (or pretty much anywhere), you paid more in income taxes than General Electric (GE; the largest corporation in the U.S.) paid in corporate taxes last year. Don't take my word for it. Ironically, the NY Times has an article on this in today's edition; see: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/25/business/economy/25tax.html?_r=1&nl=todaysheadlines&emc=tha2&pagewanted=all Reminder: GE used to be the major owner of the NBC networks -- it is a minor owner now after selling major ownership to Comcast. Think it has any effect on what gets presented on the NBC news programs like the NBC Nightly News or on CNBC? To close on a happier note: today is the birthday of Aretha Franklin, Elton John, Gloria Steinem, Arturo Toscanini (of famed musical memory), David Lean (director of many great films such as "Lawrence of Arabia", "Bridge over the River Kwai", "Great Expectations", etc.) Bela Bartok, and St. Catherine of Sienna, patron Saint of Italy who'll probably shed a tear or two over women who have died at too early an age. -Mike Palij New York University [email protected] --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [email protected]. To unsubscribe click here: http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df5d5&n=T&l=tips&o=9573 or send a blank email to leave-9573-13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df...@fsulist.frostburg.edu
