In these week we watched 2 videos about how labor rights getting more and more protection. On March 25th 1911, a fire happened at Triangle Shirtwaist Factory. Due to the factory manager locked the exit of the building as usual while workers were working; the building had four elevators but only one was working at that moment also it only can carry 12 people at a time. For workers in the factory there was no any chance for them to escape from this hell at all. Even without the fire, it is hell for them. These young immigrant women or even teenagers worked 11-12 hours a day, and didn’t have enough rest a week or daily. There were 146 of them passed away in this fire. On April 5th, 1911, a funeral protest took place at 5th avenue, more than 350,000 people were joing this protest and demanding for labor rights. The owner of the factory were not guilty through the lawsuit result. But the protest did make some change about labor right: it refined that factories in the states should have water spinkle system so that can ensure american workers can have safer working place.
Unfortunely, in the second video, we can see the same tragedy happened after 100 years. On Dec 14th 2010, workers jumped from 11 floors high floor to the ground since the factory they were working at had a fire. The manager locked the exit so it was diffcult for the workers to escape from it. People started to jump so that at least their family can find their dead bodies. At least 27 died and more than 100 people injured. How come after 100 years the same tragedy still happening? The video made me very sad and through the video I know that the way that capitalism running the world is unhealthy. It led to this result because they put their profit, revenue priority of people’s lives. They probably know that even anything happens, they would end up paying money for the families but even though it is just $80 for a life. Their jeans made for kids with price tag $26, after selling multiple jeans they can earn that back. Workers in the states have safer workplace now, but capitalists always chasing lower cost-labor cost and less labor rights stricted coutries. Wherever there is profit, wherever you can see capitalists. Even in the end, there are laws passed to protect these workers’ rights. But I know they would find other ways.
Hi Yin,
I find all these different events in history horrible. When these events seem to go in a constant cycle, most stay stuck because we don’t know how to break away from that cycle. The media obviously doesn’t make it any better either.
You brought up an excellent point- history repeats itself. In my eyes, this should be the main reason as to us having suffrage, labor rights and equal rights- because we have seen what has happened in our history and we should know enough to not want history to repeat itself.
Just as those in the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire were undocumented and therefor most likely unable or in fear to speak up, so are many of the individuals today who work jobs and are fighting for their citizenship. Just as you mentioned, it seems that we really are witness to the repetition of history, which means we have to continue to fight for a better tomorrow, a tomorrow in which all of the world is protected through suffrage, labor rights and equal rights.
Hello Yin I apologize for the previous comment, please disregard.
I also watched the videos and it was disconcerting to say the least, because we were able to see just how negligent those in charge of workplaces can be- costing the lives of the very workers who are the reason that the job is being done. As you also mentioned, the majority of the workers were young women who were accustomed to working 11-12 hour days, in grueling conditions that did not even allow them to rest. It is not okay for people to still be living this way and the fact of the matter is that this incident is not the first, it just so happened to be the one that was appropriately publicized. We really need to fight for suffrage, labor rights and equal rights because no one deserves to have their life at risk due to the unfair treatment of their employers, who can certainly afford to.
Hello Yin,
It is truly frustrating just how terrible working conditions can be. It’s unbelievable how sweatshop labor is still happening today. Capitalism is a worldwide issue that affects so many aspects of our society, and I really wish things would change.
Hello Yin, It is very upsetting to see these incidents repeating themselves after so many decades and so much advocacy has been done to stop these things from occurring. It’s very dishearting the lack of publicity and how it is just swept under the rug.
Hello Yin!
I get so upset at how workers all around the world are treated poorly and are underpaid. The fact sweatshops are still existing today is so sickening. The hours are too long, the work is very brutal and they don’t get to rest, it’s inhumane in all honesty. Seems to be a never ending cycle.