There is a wonderful book by David Von Drehle called “Triangle, the Fire That Changed America”. I found it fascinating and the photographs are sad and challenging to look at.

The Triangle Fire led to the establishment of unions to protect workers and get fair pay for women especially. Most of the women who persished were immigrants who spoke little or no English. The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory was on Greene Street in Greenwich Village. The factory was essentially a “sweat shop”, and the workers would take home “piece work” to make extra money.

When I was in the film “Iron Jawed Angels” there was a scene outside of a factory with mostly young girls as workers. The Suffragists were trying to get “factory women” to join the fight for Suffrage for Women. Most of these workers were too busy trying to cobble together wages to take part in protests or to get involved as the middle class women did.

One of the lines that I clearly remember was Alice Paul ( Author of the Equal Rights Amendment- still not passed ) saying ” a vote is a fire escape”. It reasonated with me as an actor and as someone who is a union member now.

Thanks again,
Lynn-Jane Foreman
AEA SAG AFTRA
actor/ voicework