Unions have been much in the news lately. The efforts of conservatives in places such as Wisconsin to dismantle worker protections -- and the support with which those efforts are met -- are another example of the very short historical memories of far too many people in this country.
Unions are responsible for protections which are ingrained so deeply into law and society we take them for granted: child labor laws, workplace safety requirements, the very concepts of a forty hour work week and overtime and vacation and sick pay. All of those are union victories which benefit everyone, not merely those who pay union dues.
Yesterday was the 100th anniversary of the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire. Terry Karney has a nice piece of writing on the fire, and more importantly, on the conditions which existed for workers in that factory. It is sad and chilling reading.
Well worth a look.
Edited to add: This post at Jason Cochran's blog is a must, too. He says what I've been thinking.
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