Political Quotes

“Friday, March 25, marks the 100th anniversary of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire. The deaths of 146 workers--mostly young women--were avoidable. If the owners of the factory had not locked the doors to the stairwells and exits, if they had installed a stable fire escape or put in sprinklers, many of those lives would not have been painfully and tragically lost. The International Ladies Garment Workers Union didn't just mourn the victims--they organized. Their activism resulted in the passage of major worker protections--not just new fire-safety laws but laws against the 7-day work weeks and child labor. The Triangle tragedy helped expand the right to union representation--a voice at work. One hundred years later, we confront a coordinated effort to roll back those hard-fought gains. Just as the Triangle fire spurred people into action, the anti-working family agenda of Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker has mobilized millions. The message is clear: We will not go back. ____________________”