Saskatchewan Regional Council of Carpenters, Drywall, Millwrights ...

The Triangle Shirtwaist Inferno
March 2011 marked the poignant 100
year anniversary of the Triangle
Inferno in New York. In 1911 there
were no unions, no labour standards
and no OH&S regulations for
garment workers. But then, as now,
there were rapacious bosses willing to
cut corners to maximize profits.
A fire broke out on the upper floors
of a New York high rise building at
the Triangle Shirtwaist company. The
fire escapes had been locked by the
boss to prevent pilferage. 146
workers, mostly young women, died
horribly, either burned to death or by
defenestrating to escape the heat.
This spectacle happened in
Organizer Job Posting
Our organizers have been ridden hard,
and soon will be put away wet.
Kerry Westcott has given notice that
2011 will be his last year. Like Kerry,
Barry Holma is nearing the home
stretch. Kerry held elective and
appointive offices in the Operative
Plasterers and Cement Masons for 20
years and has been an organizer /
recruiter for local 1985 and the
Saskatchewan Regional Council for
ten years.
Barry has been a job steward and
activist for Local 1021 for longer than
he cares to admit. Barry has been a
charter member and architect of the
Regional Council and an organizer /
recruiter for ten years. There is a lot
of institutional memory in those two
heads. As they say, old age and
treachery will beat youth and beauty
most days.
And yet, youth and beauty must
have their day, as well. So the
Regional Council is giving notice of
the start of the selection process for
replacement organizers. Step one is to
advertise the vacancy and see if any
downtown New York and was
witnessed by thousands. Out of this
tragedy came a tremendous surge of
union organizing by the Ladies
Garment Workers Union. Some
historians say it was a major impetus
to FDR’s New Deal. FDR’s first
Labour Secretary, Francis Perkins,
was an eyewitness to the fire and
deeply moved by witnessing so many
young women leap to their deaths to
escape the flames because the fire
exits were locked.
This tragedy inspired the greatest
organizing drives in North American
history. It also inspired the landmark
legislation ensuring workers had the
members step up. There will then start
an evaluation and training process.
This may involve training at the UBC
centre in Las Vegas. It may mean an
internship in the second half of this
year on a fixed term provisional
contract. Our preference is to find a
suitable journey member of Local
1985 or 1021 to assume a full-time
position on January 1st, 2012.
Candidates must be fully committed
trade unionists convinced of the union
advantage. Ideally
the candidate
would be young, an
excellent verbal
and written
communicator with
good computer
skills, including
social networking.
The hours can be
long and there is
considerable travel
i n v o l v e d .
Candidates must be
able to conform to
Council policy and
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right to organize, that defined labour
standards and raised the expectation
of a safe workplace.
Our brothers and sisters in the
American trade union movement are
under attack in Wisconsin, Ohio and
elsewhere. Right-wing politicians
bankrolled by corporate interests are
trying to legislate a 100 years of
progress away. Judging from the
100,000 strong demonstrations and
the strong fight back campaigns to
recall anti-union politicians in
Wisconsin, the attack on labour is
provoking the kind of reaction it did
in 1911.
A hurt to one is an injury to all. L
take direction from the EST. But
candidates must also demonstrate
good common sense, an ability to
innovate and perform without
constant supervision.
The first step is to provide EST
Kelvin Goebel with a resumé and a
500 word letter making your case for
the job. Fully trained Organizers /
Recruiters can expect foreman’s rate
and benefits. Intern and trainee rates
are yet to be negotiated. L