The Factory Workers’ Plea
Triangle Shirtwaist Factory workers struck in 1909, demanding safer conditions. Female immigrants protested locked exit doors and insufficient fire escapes in New York garment shops. Owners Max Blanck and Isaac Harris rejected these requests, prioritizing profit over safety. They feared workers would steal fabric if doors remained unlocked. On March 25, 1911, fire trapped employees on the ninth floor. The blaze killed 146 workers, finally spurring labor reforms through New York’s Factory Investigating Commission.
