One hundred years ago on March 25, a huge fire swept through the cramped Triangle Waist Company garment factory on the 8th, 9th and 10th floors of the Asch Building in lower Manhattan. Workers in the factory had little time or opportunity to escape and the fire tragically killed 146 workers, including many young immigrant women and children--some as young as age 11.
It was the deadliest workplace accident in New York City's history and an event that helped changed working conditions and led to the birth of the garment unions that are the heritage of Workers United, an SEIU affiliate.
As the 100th anniversary of the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire approaches, PBS and HBO are both offering documentaries on the event that spurred on the modern union movement.
PBS's documentary on the fire and its galvanizing impact on America's social justice and labor movement aired recently, and you can watch it online.
HBO's documentary "Triangle: Remembering The Fire" is set to air starting March 21, 2011 at 9:00 p.m. The film's executive producer is the great-niece of Celia Gitlin, a teenage Russian immigrant who died in the fire. Subsequently, the film focuses on interviews with descendants of the people who were there.
Workers United is holding an official commemoration in New York City at the former home of the Triangle Waist Company, which is one block east of Washington Square Park. Check out Remember the Triangle Fire Coalition's website for more details, events and ways you can participate.
