March 25, 2011 marked the 100th anniversary of the devastating fire that flourished through the upper three floors of the Triangle Factory in downtown Manhattan, killing 129 women and 17 men.. On the day of the fire at 4:40pm the 8th floor caught aflame (from what is thought to be a discarded cigarette), there was no plan, never even practice of a fire drill. Unfortunately 146 people were caught in the inescapable fire.. Sprinkles and fire drills were happening in other factories, but not in the Triangle Factory. Later evidence discovered that the ninth floor exits, with three-hundred employees, had been locked.

ILRF also awarded the American Federation of Teachers for their work that brings issues of child labor into classrooms around the United States, in an effort to raise awareness and mobilize campaign activities among teachers and students nationwide. 

Finally, United Steelworkers received an award for the passion and leadership they have brought and continue to apply to the fight for workers rights. Their efforts have been critical in helping exploited workers to organize for the first time and participate in training programs.

ILRF was glad to have the chance to honor these important individuals and institutions who have achieved progress in the fight for workers’ rights in the United States and abroad.

The punitive lawsuit against Mr. Charles Hector only accentuates the harsh reality of Burmese migrant workers in Malaysia, who do not speak the local language, face exploiting and indifferent employers and agents, unhelpful embassies, limited access to justice and collective bargaining and insufficient monitoring and protection from the authorities. Mr. Charles Hector advocates through a credible channel on complaints of rights abuses to the public and expresses the growing concern of conditions for millions of workers.

One of the horrified passersby who witnessed this scene was another Rose, Rose Schneiderman. An immigrant like Rosie, Rose taught herself English while working in a sweatshop then began a life as an organizer for the International Ladies Garment Workers Union. She joined forces with the social reformer Frances Perkins (both are pictured in the eighth panel with the fire in the background), to press for the work protections we have come until recently to take for granted—limits on the length of the work week, restrictions on child labor, minimum wage, worker’s compensation, rules to assure a safe and healthful work environment. It was Rose Schneiderman who said, “What the woman who labors wants is the right to live, not simply exist. . . .