- Include at least two "rights" that you feel are non-negotiable.
- Must be completed before 9am on Monday.
- Spelling/Grammar count!
Friday, September 6, 2013
Triangle Shirtwaist Fire Response
Assume the identity of a relative of one of the women/men that died in the Triangle Shirtwaist fire. What basic rights do you think a worker in a factory or at any job require as part of their rights as human beings? Write a response to this statement using a name of a REAL person that died in the fire.
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DeleteHi my name is Alex. I had a sister that was 14 years old named Kate Leone. She died at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire. It was really a sad moment. I think she deserved better rights as a worker. Kate would come home from the factory and tell me that she always hated it. Her boss told her that if she missed even one day of work she would be fired. That is not right! I think there are two rights that need be upgraded for workers. Every worker needs more breaks to use the bathroom and to eat lunch. At the factory, Kate would have to wait until the shift was over to eat or use the bathroom. It is not right for workers to work all day without a break. The next right that should be relooked at is overtime. I think women that don’t have husbands need overtime wages so they can pay bills, put food on the table, and put a roof over their heads.
ReplyDeleteHi I'm Erika. My sister Julia Brooks died in the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire. Julia had turned 16 just a few months before the fire, but had been working at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory since she was 13. It was devastating, the day we had to go look at everyone that died in the fire just to identify Julia. I felt so bad for her, she would always come home and complain about how much she hated her job but knew she couldn't quit because our family need the money. Julia was such a hard worker always offering to work overtime if needed but hated the fact that even though she worked overtime she wouldn't ever get paid for it. I personally think that if you have such a hard worker that is working overtime for you that you should pay them for the hours they worked overtime too. Another thing that I think should change is their breaks. Julia once told me that all the women that worked at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory weren't able to have even one break the entire time they were working. I guess their boss was scared if they had a break it gave the women a chance to steal stuff from the factory and they couldn't have that. I think that if you hire someone you should trust them enough that when they go on breaks they won't steal anything. Julia started working at an early age, but if it weren't for the money she made we wouldn't have survived in American for as long as we did. It was a shame the way Julia had to die.
ReplyDeleteLogan Moulds
ReplyDeleteAbraham Binevitz was my nephew, he died at the tender age of just 20. This I can tell you, he will not die for nothing. Abe was a fun-loving young man with a caring spirt. He worked that job to support his parents and to help pay the rent.
Some basic rights that I think every worker should have is a set pay check, I say this because everyone in entitled to know what they are earning. Another basic right that all workers should have is an eight hour work day, I say this because working 14 hours plus is ridiculous. One more basic right that everyone should have is the right to use the restroom, it is ridiculous that you are not allowed to use the restroom in some working environments.
If these changes are put into place. the workforce as a whole will work harder and will be a lot safer in everyday working environments.
- Logan Moulds
Hi, my name is Giulia and my sister died in the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire. I was really upset when my parents came back from the Factory and told me that they had to identify my sister's dead body. She was a hard worker, but we all knew that she hated her job, even though she always tried to hide it. She didn't want to quit because she knew my family needed the money, but we could see that she was exhausted when she came back from work. I know things could have gone differently if the work place had been safer. I think that nobody should work in a place that's not safe or where the boss doesn't care about workers' conditions and safety. I don't understand why a boss wouldn't care if his workers are sick or dead because of their working conditions! My sister, as well as the other women, didn't even have a break during the entire time she was working and I think this is not right. I never really understood why they were't even allowed to use the restroom, and I guess this made those women slaves. I don't know why people would treat their own workers like this.
ReplyDeleteGiulia
Jessanna Nebel
ReplyDeleteMy sister Margaret was one of the many victims of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire. She was only 16 years old when she died from being burned alive. After seeing all the damage that has beed done, I think some changes need to be done. First and foremost, a workplace needs to be safe for the employees. That means there should always be at least one exit they can escape from incase of an emergency like this fire. If there is potential for fire or some sort of hazard, a business should take precaution of these types of things before its too late. There should always be some helpful resource incase a disaster takes place. Another change I think would benefit all Americans is overtime work results in more pay. I can think of numerous times that Margaret would come home from the factory two to three hours later than her shift was over and she would not get paid for those extra hours. Families like mine have everyone working who is able to work just to help support each other and put food on our tables. Margaret, only being 16 decided to find a job to help out the family. If you work more hours, you should be getting paid more. It just makes sense. We moved our lives to America for freedom and prosperity. With the loose end rules around here, I do not see prosperity. But only hard working families struggling to survive. These rules that I mentioned would help change that.
Hi I’m Ashlynn. My and my 18-year-old sister Annie Nicholas died in the triangle shirtwaist fire. It was so tragic to hear that they had identified her body after the fire. I was very close to my sister and it was the hardest thing my family had gone thorough. My sister hated her job but she knew she needed to get the money to help my family so she continued to go to work day after day. Before she had died she told me many stories of how bad work conditions were there and I can only think if they would have been better maybe she would have survived. I think they need to make factories safer for their workers. I think the bosses should not be allowed to lock the workers in the room until they are done. If the door hadn’t been locked I’m sure many more people would have survived and maybe even Annie. Also I think they should be allowed to have breaks. Annie worked long hard hours and wasn’t able to take a brake to use the restroom or eat or anything. She knew she would get fired if she stopped working for even a second. Also I think they should be paid for overtime. Annie’s shifts always went longer than they were supposed to but she never got paid more for it. They had some of the worst working conditions you could have. If they would just make some changes I think that working conditions would be much better and safer for all of the workers.
ReplyDeleteWassup I'm Riley and my little sister Shaniqua died in the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire. She was only 14 years old when she died. The conditions in the building were not the greatest and that was the cause of most of the deaths in the factory. They only had one safe exit in the building. There was a fire escape but it ended up breaking and killing some of the workers. My sister should've been paid for all the time that she worked. Especially since my entire family has to work to make it. We deserve to get all the money that we worked for. They didn't get breaks and had to work all day, they shoud get paid for every minute they put in. It'll be even harder now that we are one family member short. I was very surprised to find out the bosses of the factory were found innocent considering they only had one exit in the building. It seemed they cared more about their money than they did about the workers that made it for them.
ReplyDeletemake that Annie Nicholas instead of Shaniqua
DeleteHer name was Mary. She was my mother and a wife, and now she is gone because nobody cared enough to even remember that she was in that building. I cannot change what has happened or bring my mother back, but i am going to make sure this does not happen again to anyone. When i grow older and my word means something to people i will change the factories all over America. The first "new rule" being all factories must have at least two fire exits per floor of the building and one reliable fire escape outside of the windows. That is my main rule that i believe must be enforced in this industry, but i do remember nights my mother would come home and tell of things she did not enjoy about her job. One of them being she was not allowed to leave her seat at all, not even if she hurt herself she would just have to set there and keep sewing. So, that would be the second rule i would make, all employees must have at least one break a day so that they are able to take care of themselves and stretch their legs and such. Lastly there should be a set pay for all workers for every hour they work, and all hours must be calculated down to the very last second. They all deserve that and more, but i think even just these few changes and make a difference for all factory workers.
ReplyDeleteIsaac Penner
ReplyDeleteMy name is Isaac Penner. One day, I was busy at work mending a pair of trousers for my beloved sister Ida Pearl. All of a sudden my father came rushing into the chamber and told me that dear Ida had passed away in a horrible fire at the Triangle Shirt Waist Factory. I was told to come help identify the body. In the coming days of Ida's death, I had heard stories of the terrible work conditions that she had encountered. She told me stories of people getting fired for going to the bathroom, and one time Ida herself had her finger sewn in by one of the machines. She had to keep working, knowing that if she stopped to heal it, she would be fired. The pay was terrible, but in the current economy, she couldn't afford to not have a job so she stuck it out until the end. I believe that a worker is entitled to bathroom breaks, health coverage, and safety precautions. These are not negotiable as far as my standards. If simple safety precautions were taken during this fire, nobody would have died or there might possibly not have been a fire in the first place. There should be a minimum wage for all workers. I believe that workers should also be entitled to paid time off, and benefits. These are not necessities for jobs but i would not work there myself unless they were a part of the deal.
Brad Simpson
ReplyDeleteMy mom Annie Nicholas died in the Triangle Shirt Waist Factory. When I heard how she and many other women and children died in the fire I was deeply angered. The fact that the one exit they had was locked, they didn't have any fire escapes, and they weren't ever allowed to use the bathroom or they'd be fired is ridiculous. I think the people in charge of the factory should be put in jail for life and their money should be split equally between the families of the people that died in the fire. If I were to work in a factory there would HAVE to be fire exits, bathroom breaks, and all the escape doors unlocked.
Grant Raleigh
ReplyDeleteWork at the factory seemed much different on that day. Everybody was restless, and gossiping about something that was going on. I didn't know what happened until I walked out of work and saw the whole Triangle Shirtwaist company in flames. My sister, Essie Bernstein immediately popped into my mind and I prayed she was alright. I saw my mother crying by the building and I knew she was dead. At the age of 19, my sister died because of the selfish bosses, and terrible working conditions that exist. I believe that every worker, no matter what age, race, or gender should have some non-negotiable rights that no one can take away. One of these rights should be that every workplace needs a fire escape. If the Shirtwaist factory would have had a fire escape no one would have died. Another right that every person deserves is to have breaks. The girls working in the Triangle had no idea there was even a fire because they were so focused on their work. My sister had to rarely eat just so she wouldn't have to go to the bathroom at work. That is ridiculous, and also unsafe. Lastly, I believe there should be a minimum wage at your work. Everybody in Packingtown works endless hours for terrible wages and there is nothing they can do about it. A minimum wage would set a mark that every worker would have to be paid per hour. I understand having rules in your work but these two rights, every single person deserves.
Hi my name is Keith. I had a brother that was about 17 teen. He was too young to die at that age. It was a sad day for me to hear that my brother died. I thank that he deserved to have more rights a worker. Every day my brother Frank, Tina would come home and tell me about all the bad thing that would be going on that day at work. One time my brother was so sick that he should have just stayed home but he knew if he did not go to work then he would of been fired. That day I told my brother just to quit the job and that I would take care of use but he insisted that he went to work and helped pay for things. There was also one time that my brother was really hunger and need something to eat but he did not have a break. I think that the workers should off got paid for a sick day and they should of got more brakes to eat. Now I have to live without my brother.
ReplyDeleteHi my name is Keith. I had a brother that was about 17 teen. He was too young to die at that age. It was a sad day for me to hear that my brother died. I thank that he deserved to have more rights a worker. Every day my brother Frank, Tina would come home and tell me about all the bad thing that would be going on that day at work. One time my brother was so sick that he should have just stayed home but he knew if he did not go to work then he would of been fired. That day I told my brother just to quit the job and that I would take care of use but he insisted that he went to work and helped pay for things. There was also one time that my brother was really hunger and need something to eat but he did not have a break. I think that the workers should off got paid for a sick day and they should of got more brakes to eat. Now I have to live without my brother.
ReplyDeleteI was working at a canning company at the time. After my shift i go home to my family. I waited for my daughter Ida, to get back from her 14 hour shift at work. When she did not return that night, i got worried. The next day they announced the fire. Which was very devastating to hear that my daughter along with 146 people died. It was NOT her time to go. What I am wondering is why didn't they unlock those doors for them? Why were they not helped out sooner. Ida had told me about these absurd rules that they had to obey. Like no breaks, low pay, and long hours. I think that they should have had the freedom to get a break to eat or to use the restroom. Why didn't they consider all the possible hazards with locking the doors. And now because of them i had lost my daughter forever. Because of them. Evil eyed men who got suspicious thinking their workers where stealing. And now because of them 146 people died. And the worst part is that they didn't get put in jail for any of it.
ReplyDeleteAbby Duran
My name is Robert Bernstein, my brother Jacob Bernstein was one of the victims in the recent fire at the shirt waist factory. It was a horrible tragedy and it has been rough on our family. I just feel it could have been preventable if the workers had more rights and freedoms in the work place and also if it was a safer environment. He told me that they weren't aloud to go to the bathroom and also that the only door out was locked all day until the sift was over.
ReplyDeleteThat isn't right, workers should be able to use the bathroom at work. Also they should be able to get out of the work place if they have an emergency or if there is something like the fire so they can get to safety and that way we wouldn't have had such a horrible thing that has happened. It was all easily preventable just the bosses were to stubborn to give them a little freedom and make the work places safer. Thank you for your time.
Sincerely, Robert Bernstein.
Chase Brown
James Duke
ReplyDeleteIsaac
When I look at this Biltmore Estate I think that there is nothing wrong with it. I personally like my houses more old fashion but it is a very nice house. The estate that I live in looks similar to the one in North Carolina. Lots of people believe that wealth should be spread out equally among the people. I do not agree with this at all. I worked for my fortune and it is others responsibility to become wealthy. I deserve what I have, and I want to spend it accordingly which entitles me to nice things. The reason that I have my wealth is because I worked for it, and the reason that you are not wealthy is because you did not work for it.