New York Shirtwaist Strike (1909)

Wed Nov 24, 1909

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Image: Two women strikers on picket line during the “Uprising of the 20,000”, garment workers strike, New York City [Wikipedia]

On this day in 1909, the New York Shirtwaist Strike began when 15,000 shirtwaist factory workers (mostly Jewish women) walked off the job in New York City to demand higher wages and better working conditions.

The strike was the largest by female American workers up to that date, and was led by Clara Lemlich and the International Ladies’ Garment Workers’ Union, also supported by the National Women’s Trade Union League of America (NWTUL).

The industry working conditions preceding the strike were atrocious - work weeks of 65 hours were normal, and in season they might expand to as many as 75 hours. Despite low wages, workers were often required to buy their own materials, including needles, thread, and sewing machines.

In February of 1910, the NWTUL settled with the factory owners, gaining improved wages, working conditions, and hours. The end of the strike was followed just a year later by the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire, which exposed the plight of immigrant women working in dangerous and difficult conditions and boosted participation in the garment unions.