(March
24, 2011)
In
order to further improve the lines of communication and to respond to the
concerns between the National VA Council and you our members, I have
established a National VA Council Briefing. This NVAC Briefing will bring
you the latest news and developments within DVA and provide you with the
current status of issues this Council is currently addressing. I believe
that this NVAC Briefing will greatly enhance the way in which we communicate
and the way in which we share new information, keeping you better informed.
Alma
L. Lee
National
VA Council, President
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In
This Briefing:
Remembering
The Triangle Factory Fire…100 years later.
On
Saturday, March 25, 1911, hundreds of young immigrants were bent over
their sewing machines at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory in New York.
Suddenly, flames rushed through the 9th floor, leading to panic
among the workers. One of the exits was blocked by flames, so the
workers ran to the other exit, only to find that it was locked by their
employer to prevent theft, and the manager who had the key had already fled
the building. Dazed, the workers tried to get out by a fire escape,
but since management had never checked the rusty escape, it was unable to
take the weight of the workers and crashed to the street nine floors below.
Faced with the prospect of burning to death, the workers began leaping to
their death, with a death toll of 146 people.
The
Fire provided a vivid picture of just how powerless workers’ were, without
Collective Bargaining Rights. The Fire gave rise to the International
Ladies Garment Workers Union (ILGWU) and after investigations, it was
revealed that more than 200 factories had similar working conditions, which
led to new labor and safety laws.
We
commemorate this day…we do so in a time when many people are saying that
we don’t need government regulation, that business will take care of
its’ workers and their safety. Attached you will find a
article written by Secretary Hilda Solis, DOL, commemorating this event and
supporting collective bargaining.
Another
good source of information: http://www.ilr.cornell.edu/trianglefire/