Res. No. 1327
Resolution declaring March 25th Workplace Safety Day in the City of New York to commemorate the 97th anniversary of the tragic Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire.
By Council Members Gerson, Brewer, Fidler, Gonzalez, James, Koppell, Liu, Nelson, Palma, Sanders Jr. and Weprin
Whereas, In the early 1900s, reprehensible workplace safety violations were commonplace in the Lower Manhattan garment industry, and a multitude of these violations existed at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory; and
Whereas, Located in the Asch building at 23-29 Washington Place, a factory fire on March 25, 1911 resulted in the tragic death of 146 garment workers, mostly young women; and
Whereas, At the time, these egregious safety and hazardous conditions included the improper storage of flammable textiles throughout the factory, and a shortage of exits which in any case were locked to prevent theft, exacerbating a deadly scenario when the fire ensued that tragic day; and
Whereas, The only fire escape available was inadequate to carry the weight of the fleeing victims; and
Whereas, The garment workers at this and similar factories were viewed as expendable commodities, although they were neither expendable nor commodities; and
Whereas, The death of these workers, with the help of International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union and the Womens' Trade Union League, led to legislative reforms to improve workplace safety in New York City and the nation; and
Whereas, Over the years without the many mandates imposed on
workplace safety, additional countless lives undoubtedly would have been lost; and
Whereas, Tragically, unfavorable workplace conditions still exist in this country and abroad, and despite the regulations in place that aim to provide for increased workplace safety, factories are still susceptible to unfortunate, deadly events such as fires; and
Whereas, This City is committed to ensuring that the highest standards of workplace safety are in place and that a tragedy such as the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire never occurs again; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York, declares March 25th Workplace Safety Day in the City of New York to commemorate the 97th anniversary of the tragic Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire.
SO
LS# 5055
3/20/08
1:26PM