Last week the students in both of Cary Reichardt’s modern American history classes at TABC time traveled to the year 1912 for the culmination of their unit on early labor unions and their struggle for reforms in the workplace. The students were assigned roles as either union reps for the International Ladies Garment Workers’ Union (ILGWU) or factory owners. Union reps practiced the art of collective bargaining as they negotiated with the factory owners to address many of their complaints and avoid a strike. In light of “last year’s” Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire, regulations and precautions for fire safety in the factories were at the top of their list of demands.

After some heated negotiating on both sides, employers agreed to schedule regular fire drills, never to block exit doors and to repair all fire escapes on the buildings. Next on their list was workers’ compensation insurance to provide for the many employees injured while operating the dangerous machines on which they hadn’t been properly trained. When workers threatened a “walk-out,” employers finally conceded and even offered special training for employees willing to give up part of their lunch break to do so.

One issue that both sides were unable to compromise on was a six-day work week which included Saturday. Many of the union members come from Shomer Shabbos households and were willing to make up the sixth day on Sundays. Factory owners refused to have their businesses open on Sundays. After listening to arguments from both sides, they agreed to table this discussion for next month’s meetings.