New York's Tragedy: The Triangle Fire of 1911, Part 1

companies had a few ways to avoid strikes. The inside contractor system mirrored the sweatshop system in that the contractor decided how much to pay the worker, thus being the middle man between the workers and owners. There was also a union created by the owners, the Triangle Employees Benevolent Association, but all its officers were relatives of the bosses. In late 1909 150 employees went to a meeting for a women's union. The owners sent spies to the meeting, and the next day the unionists refused to back down when confronted. The day after that, workers found themselves locked out of the company, and decided to strike.⁷

II

Strikebreakers were called for. They happened to be prostitutes and when confronted by the picket line they attacked the strikers. Since they had the police on their side the strikebreakers broke through and went to work. The company hired thugs to go after leaders and of course the officers did nothing. New York wasn't paying enough attention to the strike so the Women's Trade Union League put rich ladies on the picket lines. This attracted attention not only from high society and newspapers but also made police less likely to violate the rights of the strikers for fear that one maybe have the key to his career. Manufacturers got together and formed the Cloak suit, and Skirt Manufactures Protective Association and vowed not to give in. ⁸

The attention inspired others to follow a huge strike was organized, and on the first day of the strike 15,000 waist makers and 60,000 cloak makers walked out. ⁹ The owners sent more thugs, made jobs more enticing by playing music during lunch hours and encouraging employees to dance. Also by welcoming back workers 'with no penalties'. But the strikers carried on and held out for real change, even replacement workers walked out and forced the Triangle Company to shut down. The female strikers received harsh punishment from the courts and police. Police favored the owners, who could grease their palms, more then the strikers. When strikebreakers beat the strikers the strikers were arrested. When thugs beat up the young girls no action was taken. When the strikers got to the courthouse instead of fines they were sentenced to work camps for a minimum of 30 days. Whereas in the taxi strike a few years earlier most drivers were fined and released the same day. The harsh

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