Anniversary of a tragedy

Mourn the dead, but fight like hell for the living

By Judy Gearhart, International Labor Rights Forum.  

Today we remember the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire in New York City and the 146 garment workers – most of them young women and girls – who died 105 years ago. 

That tragedy became a pivotal moment in history that helped usher in sweeping labor law protections in the United States. 

At ILRF we are proud supporters of the  Remember the Triangle Coalition, which continues to commemorate the sacrifice of those 146 garment workers every year and to build a coalition of supporters for a permanent memorial at the site of the tragedy.

The annual commemoration in New York is not an isolated action, but one that connects garment workers everywhere, too many of whom continue to risk their lives making the clothes we wear.  

At ILRF we continue to advocate on behalf of apparel workers everywhere and to fight for workers’ rights to have a say in their safety without fear of reprisals. 

Here’s what you can do to take action to help prevent factory disasters, like 2012 the Ali Enterprises factory fire in Pakistan and the 2013 Rana Plaza factory in Bangladesh:

• Demand H&M ensure safety renovations are completed in its factories in Bangladesh
• Join or plan a demonstration outside an H&M store during the company’s annual shareholders meeting on May 3^rd  
• Call on the Chairman of the German apparel retailer Kik to pay compensation to victims of the Ali Enterprises factory fire