Today in labor history Mar 25 “Poor People’s March” on Washington & Triangle factory fire 147 dead

[Omaha Steve]

March 25

Toronto printers strike for the 9-hour day in what is believed to be Canada’s first major strike - 1872



First “Poor People’s March” on Washington, in which jobless workers demanded creation of a public works program. Led by populist Jacob Coxey, the 500 to 1,000 unemployed protesters became known as “Coxey’s Army” - 1894



March 25, 1911 - A fire broke out on the upper floors of the Triangle Shirtwaist factory in New York City. Within minutes, the blaze killed 147 young workers, most of them Jewish and Italian immigrant women. The workers had been locked in by their employer. The tragedy inspired a movement for workplace safety and to crack down on sweatshops. For more information on this tragedy and its aftermath, visit the Cornell University online exhibit, The Triangle Factory Fire, http://www.ilr.cornell.edu/Trianglefire/

[aquart]

1. The Triangle.

My grandmother was a garment worker.

[dcsmart]

2. K & R

Let's send this one to the GT list. Thanks for the history posts