Are safety codes important for factories? The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire was a tragedy that occurred in a clothing factory in Manhattan, on March 25th, 1911. The building was haphazardly arranged which led to the death of 146 people. The fire impacted the nation socially and politically. The nation was impacted politically because it lead to many reforms and legislation which improved working conditions in the US. Socially, the citizens of the nation gathered together to make unions and advocated for reforms. The Triangle Shirtwaist Fire led to a national movement for safer working conditions, proved the importance of safety codes, and helped strengthen the nation by leading to reforms that are still used today. The Triangle Shirtwaist …show more content…
Workers were guaranteed the right of collective bargaining (Lieurance 102). Collective bargaining is when workers and their employers negotiate on topics such as wages, hours, benefits, and working conditions, to reach a agreement that both sides agree upon. The National Labor Relations Board looked over labor disputes and union elections. The laws passed made the nation stronger by giving workers more rights and protecting them against injustices that they might potentially suffer. There were many unions that came about as an effect of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire. The Women’s Trade Union League, or the WTUL, was a popular union that was primarily for upper class women but later evolved into a group for the working class. The union’s major goal was to get rid of sweatshop conditions. Many Shirtwaist workers were a part of this union before the fire. Around 1950, the union had suffered through a lot (financially and from the depression) and so, the union dissolved in 1950 (Lieurance 103). After the Women’s Trade Union League, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or the OSHA, The OSHA enforced the Occupational Safety and Health Act. The act was made to prevent injuries, illnesses that relate to work, and deaths (Lieurance 103). As a result, the number of workplace deaths decreased by 50%, compared to when the law wasn’t in effect. The OSHA significantly improved the well being and working conditions for workers. Unions were crucial to strengthening the nation because the unions gave the workers a voice in how they wanted to do their job. They got to speak up about what they wanted concerning wages, benefits, hours and such things. By allowing workers to do this, the US grew as a more fair and democratic nation. Legislation, reforms, and unions, aided workers by giving them rights like collective bargaining so that they could have a more safer and agreeable work