Sorry Fire Story, Manhatten NYC, 1911.

From Wikipedia

The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire in the Greenwich Village neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City, on Saturday, March 25, 1911, was the deadliest industrial disaster in the history of the city, and one of the deadliest in U.S. history.[1] The fire caused the deaths of 146 garment workers – 123 women and girls and 23 men[2] – who died from the fire, smoke inhalation, or falling or jumping to their deaths. Most of the victims were recent Italian or Jewishimmigrant women and girls aged 14 to 23;[3][4] of the victims whose ages are known, the oldest victim was 43-year-old Providenza Panno, and the youngest were 14-year-olds Kate Leone and Rosaria "Sara" Maltese.[5]



Provoked and defined next steps in USA labour movement and workplace safety.



Sorry Fire Story, NYC, 1911



Now you Girls

Don’t even think

Of leaving before the

Buzzers at half past.

All exits have been locked.

No goddamm Union Lads

Will get a footstep

Upon our square footage.

To agitate and complain.

Not like last year’s schmozzle.

Eighth, ninth and tenth

Floors, ours and hard built.

Machined with the best.



You gotta be thankful

For these jobs.

Back in Europe you

Know you would have

Been up against awful

Odds for fair play

Hours,

Piece work options.

Blood work is a liability.

Jews, Italians, Poles.

Denied stuff at every turn.



But we here at

Triangle Shirtwaist Co.

Do our best.

We really do.

And you benefit handsomely.



We teach you about conveyors

Pinch points, evacuation routines

Long hair netted.

Proper safety ware.

Keeping aisleways open

And clean and dry.

Prudent eye protection.

Yessirree.



Soon you will receive two weeks’

Paycheques.

Get ready to line up and punch.



Anybody smell fire?

No, seriously…