While many workers across America today continuously complain about their jobs, they also forgot one important aspect of why their work conditions are safe. The new exclusive HBO documentary ‘Triangle: Remembering the Fire,’ which premiers on Monday, March 25, humbly memorializes the lives of the workers who gave their lives during the fire that broke out at the Triangle Waist Company factory in New York City’s Asch Building nearly 100 years ago. These workers died in vain, as the government and business owners cared more about profits than the safety of those who worked for them.
‘Triangle: Remembering the Fire,’ which was directed by Daphne Pinkerson and is narrated by Tovah Feldshuh, chronicles the events leading up to, during and after the fire, which took place on March 25, 1911. On the top three floors of the 10-story building, 146 workers, many of whom were young immigrant women and girls, died after the fire either burned them or caused them to jump to their deaths from the windows. The fire broke out accidentally after many women demanded better salaries and working conditions in 1909’s infamous “Uprising of the 20,000” strike. After the government and businesses received complaints and negative press from the public after people found out the fire was preventable, officials began representing the working class, not just the wealthy.
Viewers will definitely connect to the victims and their families in this touching tribute to those who perished in the worst American work-place disaster of the twentieth century. Pinkerson made the right decision to feature interviews with some of the descendants of the victims, including Erica Lansner, the grandneice of the ninth floor forelady Fannie Lansner. Erica showed Fannie’s strength by recounting her selfless effort to escort many of her co-workers to safety before she was killed in the fire.
The interview with Katharine Weber, whose grandmother worked at Triangle, will also appeal to the audience. Hearing Weber describe the horrible work conditions her grandmother endured, and her confrontation with police during the Uprising strike, will have viewers undoubtedly question why Tammany Hall officials didn’t improve safety conditions and workers’ rights before the disaster occurred.
After hearing of the many safety conditions that would be in violation of current work laws, viewers will also question how Max Blanck and Isaac Harris, the owners of Triangle, one of the largest garment factories in New York, could live with themselves. While it financially benefited them to pack as many sewing machines as possible in the factory and not providing enough exits for their workers, providing such poor working conditions to their employees was immoral. They seemed happy that they were insured against financial loss from fire, their building routinely passed inspection and that fire drills weren’t mandatory.
‘Triangle: Remembering the Fire’ also proves how depraved the U.S. government was towards the working class during the Industrial Revolution. Officials seemed fine with neglecting job safety, and the lax rules that were passed as law were barely enforced or followed. Hopefully the documentary will remind workers today how much labor laws have improved in the 100 years since the fire broke out at the Asch building.
While only 40 minutes in length, ‘Triangle: Remembering the Fire’ serves as stark, but beneficial, reminder of why businesses need to be regulated. While Blanck and Harris, both Russian immigrants, were trying to achieve fortune in America, their lack of concern for the safety of their workers shows why the government can’t be lax with labor laws.
Written by: Karen Benardello
