All They Wanted Was BREAD AND ROSES
Today (1/12/12) is the 100th anniversary of the famous "Bread and Roses" strike. This is one of the most famous strikes in our Labor History. The Bread and Roses strike was one of the first labor strike that brought nationwide attention to some of the oppression occurring in the garment industry. This also came less than one year after the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire in New York. Labor Unions were still in their formative years but workers were starting to understand that together they could make changes if they stood together.
After the Massachusetts Legislature lowered the maximum working hours for women and children, from 56 to 54, the workers were pushed to complete more work in less time with less pay. The workers decided that this was not acceptable. They walked out. They stood on the cold streets of Lawrence for more than two months. Most of the people who were on strike were women and young children. Like the Triangle fire most of the workers were 14-18 year old girls. These young women went in front of Congress and this is where legislators began to see the struggles of these women.
It was not long after Congress began passing laws to protect workers. They created minimum age for workers among many other laws. So today, remember the women and children who helped start a labor revolution.
Here is a link to the Bread and Roses celebration and below is a great Editorial that compares the Bread and Roses strike to the Occupy Wall Street Protesters.
Celebrate the Bread & Roses Centennial! | Bread and Roses Centennial: "Join us on January 12, 2012 at 9 a.m. at the Everett Mill (15 Union St. Lawrence, MA) for the kickoff of the Bread & Roses Centennial. A brief reenactment will begin at the Everett Mill at 9 a.m. and a procession will be led by a flag carrier to Lawrence City Hall where a Mayoral proclamation will be read, the city hall bell will be rung, the flag will be raised, and the Lawrence High School Girls Ensemble will sing "The Internationale." The Lawrence History Center will then open the exhibit "Short Pay! All Out!: The Great Lawrence Strike of 1912" at 10 a.m. at the Everett Mill. "
‘Bread and roses’ still resonates - Opinion - The Boston Globe: (1/11/12)
"ONE HUNDRED years ago tomorrow, thousands of angry textile workers abandoned their looms and poured into the frigid streets of Lawrence. Like Occupy Wall Street in our own gilded age, this unexpected grassroots protest cast a dramatic spotlight on the problem of social and economic inequality. In all of US labor history, there are few better examples of the synergy between radical activism and indigenous militancy.
The work stoppage now celebrated as the “Bread and Roses Strike’’ was triggered, ironically, by a Progressive-era reform that backfired. On Beacon Hill, state legislators had just reduced the maximum allowable working hours for women and children from 56 to 54 hours per week. When this change went into effect, workers quickly discovered that their pay had been cut proportionately, and their jobs speeded up by the American Woolen Company and other firms.
The strike that started on Jan. 12, 1912 created political tremors far beyond the Merrimack Valley. It forced a vigorous national debate about factory conditions, child labor, the exploitation of immigrants, and the free exercise of First Amendment rights during labor disputes."
David Victory
12:13 am on Friday, January 13, 2012
It's so hard to imagine today. It's very moving. They were just children, uneducated and vulnerable, going up against powerful, ruthless bastards. People forget this stuff. Is the history of the labor movement still taught in public schools?
Modern day workers should appreciate what children did a century ago. We all have unions to thank for the middle class.
Thomas
4:42 pm on Thursday, January 26, 2012
It was, in a brief lecture and then forgotten when you go into the Great Depression and WWII. That was about 10 years ago. Not sure about now.
NH Labor News
7:01 am on Friday, January 27, 2012
Personally, I do not think our social studies classes spend enough time on important issues like, union history, until you get in a more focused college class. Many people have forgotten the importance of unions and the sacrifices they have made through history.
Debra Woodward
10:44 am on Saturday, January 14, 2012
It is too bad more was not made of this very important anniversary.
Jeff Hatch
4:57 pm on Sunday, January 15, 2012
So true, but that would mean your union bosses would have to spend some of that cash they're collecting from you on it. How sad instead of promoting this they choose to line the pockets of the DNC, Barrack Obama, Patrick Devall, and my favorite slick Willy Mayor of Lawrence. Oh let's not forget you all so keep the union bosses living high on the hog.
john grady
3:26 pm on Saturday, January 14, 2012
There are numerous activities this year to commemorate this watershed mark in United States Labor History. Check out this website: www.breadandrosescentennial.org
Chuck Rossier
8:09 am on Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Interesting that 2011 has been the year of rescinding the rights of unions.
Soon we will turn the clock back more than 100 years to the time when unions did not exist.
Most U.S. corporations approve and use child labor again.
They just don't use it in the United States - YET.
To bring manufacturing back to the United States child labor laws need to be rescinded.
The end of public education support will provide lots of children with nothing else to do,
but work for peanuts in part time jobs with no benefits.
The money they earn will reduce the welfare rolls and cut budgets at the state and national levels.
Yes, taxes will be reduced by using our children to pay our bills.
David Victory
12:51 am on Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Gingrich already wholeheartedly supports child labor.
ForThePeople
11:20 pm on Saturday, January 21, 2012
We are seeing one of the vulnerabilities of capitalism. If it's about the free market, if it's about who can do it the same except cheaper, you will have a race to the bottom. You will create situations where basic survival is contingent on a meager wage. We are already seeing it now. One of the roadblocks to this inevitability is unions.
We have a Republican right wing vilifying unions, talking about eliminating the minimum wage, talking about employing children to pay the bills… what country does that sound like to you?
Vote for Obama in 2012.
Thomas Trueblood
12:52 am on Sunday, January 22, 2012
The biggest vulnerabilities of capitalism is the Democrat Party lead by a President who is clueless about how it works.
NH Labor News
12:45 pm on Sunday, January 22, 2012
@thomas,
Really the problem should not be pointed at One Person (POTUS) but we should be holding all of our elected officials responsable. Congress must approve of most of the items the POTUS does, they can override him if necessary. Let us not forget our State Legislature who has pushed their fiscal responsibility down creating a loss in jobs and delays in recovery.
NH Labor News
10:47 pm on Saturday, January 21, 2012
You must have seen my post on the Gingrich Child Labor.....
Thomas Trueblood
1:53 pm on Sunday, January 22, 2012
Oh and how many jobs has POTUS cost unions because of his decision on the Keystone Pipeline. Exactly how many and at what rate. Please do not talk about them being temporary jobs. They are at first Construction Union Labor Jobs that are always temporary. Also, try 50 busks and hour for these UNION LABOR CONSTRUCTION JOBS.
NH Labor News
2:29 pm on Sunday, January 22, 2012
Here read this about the Pipeline berfore you make comments about things your heard of Faux News!
http://www.usw.org/media_center/releases_advisories?id=0486
ForThePeople
10:05 pm on Sunday, January 22, 2012
Fantastic article.
Thomas Trueblood
3:01 pm on Sunday, January 22, 2012
Please, I do not watch Fox news nor do I know anyone that does.
Your point was about one person. My point that one person the President made a decision adverse to Union Construction Jobs.
The endorsement or lack thereof by the Steel Workers Head is absolutely irrelevant.
Gotta go. Pats more important than this for sure.
David Victory
5:16 pm on Sunday, January 22, 2012
Thomas, did you click on the link? Or would you rather not be disturbed? It's way easier to just make snap decisions about issues based on soundbites, but why not seek out more information?
NH Labor News
5:29 pm on Sunday, January 22, 2012
Thank You David. The point is the Largest Effected Union in the Pipeline is standing behind the POTUS and his decision to not be forced into a bad agreement. It will come up again when they can work out a better arrangement.
Thomas Trueblood
6:44 pm on Sunday, January 22, 2012
It would be fair to say the following
The President choose Green over Jobs
Th Steelworkers Head Supported Green over Jobs
NH Labor New Network supported Green over jobs.
Simple for all Patch readers to understand.
David Victory
10:14 pm on Sunday, January 22, 2012
"Simple for all Patch readers to understand."
Is everything really simple? I know talk radio is great at simplifying complex issues, and it's human nature to want that, but it's frequently not the case. What do you mean by "green", and what do you mean by "jobs"?
LJoel Hackbart
11:39 am on Thursday, January 26, 2012
........."Green over jobs". ..."Green over jobs"?????? This is a very baffling
statement, since clearly hundreds of thousands of new jobs are just waiting
to be created in renewable energy. "Not green over jobs." Green means jobs!!!!!!!!
NH Labor News
7:46 pm on Sunday, January 22, 2012
First of all do not attempt to words in my mouth. I spit enough out all on my own. I said it was a bad deal and that it would come back again. They are not going to give up on the project. That is all I am going to say about it. Simple enough?
Thomas Trueblood
11:11 pm on Sunday, January 22, 2012
@David.
3rd quarter New England Patriots, most exciting game of the year. fantastic game. All of New England is watching, Everybody, Well, except there you are David along with NH Labor News Network. posting comments on Patch. Just like the President, I question his priorities. I question your as well.
A reminder Valentines day is February 14th. David, buy some flowers and candy for someone. Or even a better trick is getting somebody to give them to you.
David Victory
12:08 am on Monday, January 23, 2012
It was on. I saw it. Great game. It's not the whole world. Not mine, anyway.
So, what do you mean by "green", and what do you mean by "jobs"?
NH Labor News
6:49 am on Monday, January 23, 2012
@Thomas, you can deflect all you want. I did not miss a second of the game no matter what you say. I can post durning commercials or better yet PAUSE LIVE TV using this new thing called a DVR.
You are avoiding the questions.
Thomas Trueblood
10:09 am on Monday, January 23, 2012
NH Labor News
Just having fun with David who is now famous. Someone pointed out that he was the only one on Christmas Day posting his nasties on Patch. Does NH Labor News support nasties on Christmas day?
Thomas Trueblood
10:29 am on Monday, January 23, 2012
2010 minus 2012 would be two years. The President has been delaying a final decision on the Keystone Pipeline for TWO years. Do not start the time frame for delay as one week.
There are lots of reasons the US Economy has not bounced back from a Recession the way it usually does since WWII. Energy prices instead of going down during this recession have gone up thus thwarting a recovery. They have gone up because of the policies of President Obama. His Policies, His Decisions, His Responsibility. This responsibility should be shared by the democrat party and anybody else who supports his energy policies.
Plenty of time for additional talks about this in the future.
NH Labor News
10:34 am on Monday, January 23, 2012
Well, I am done arguing about who is right and who is wrong. Our entire political system is broken. All of Washington is to blame. Washington is not 1 person. Until you blame both sides for their actions, there is no sense in talking.
NH Labor News
10:31 am on Monday, January 23, 2012
Thomas, I have no idea what you are referring to so I cannot say I support any statements.
As for posting on Christmas, unlike many people I work in a 24-365 job so that means I am working on holidays etc. I also create posts for many holidays and comment on others whenever I log in. Who knows maybe David was taking a break from his family after dinner checking local news and saw something he felt strongly enough about to comment.
David Victory
11:51 pm on Tuesday, January 24, 2012
If a poster changes the conversation to the date & time of a particular post, you know their argument is weak.