In the early 1900's, Clara Lemlich participated in efforts to improve wages and working conditions for her co-workers in the garment industry. Despite a number of severe beatings by goons hired by factory owners Lemlich continued her organizing efforts. On November 22, 1909, after hours of speeches from labor representatives, mostly men, she mounted the stage at the Cooper Union and addressed the workers in Yiddish. Her words and spirit inspired 20,000 in the garment industry to go on strike, an action that lasted until February 10, 1910 and resulted in better wages and working conditions for members of the ILGWU. Ironically, and tragically, the owners of the Triangle Factory did not participate in the industry agreement.
Recipients
Class of 2023
Janella T. Hinds
Secretary-Treasurer, NYC Central Labor Council
Charlene Obernauer
Executive Director, NYCOSH
Elizabeth Weiner
on Behalf of Heriberto "Ed" Vargas
Alexandra Bryer
Triangle Scholarship Recipient
Class of 2017
Mary Anne Trasciatti, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Rhetoric, Hofstra University
President, Remember the Triangle Fire Coalition, Inc.
Lester Crockett
CSEA Metropolitan Region 2 President
Robert Grey, Esquire
Managing Partner, Grey & Grey, L.L.P.
President of the Workers Compensation Alliance and Tireless Advocate for Injured Workers
Class of 2016
Gary LaBarbera
President, Building and Construction Trades Council of Greater New York
Class of 2015
Christopher Erikson
Business Manager Local 3, IBEW
Class of 2014
Noel Beasley
President, Workers United SEIU
David J. Walsh
President & CEO, Amalgamated Family of Companies
Julia Jorge
Former Commissioner, NYS Workers Compensation Board Vice President, Retirees Association of DC 37 ASFCME
The Injured Workers Bar Association
Class of 2012
Ronald Balter, Esq.
Editor, NYS Workers’ Compensation Handbook
Hon. Gale Brewer Member,
New York City Council
William Crossett, Esq.
Vice President, Injured Workers’ Bar Association
Dr. James Melius, M.D.
Director, NYS Laborers International Union
Pamela Vossenas
Director,Workplace Safety and Health UNITE/HERE
Class of 2011
Denis M. Hughes
President of the NYS AFL-CIO
William Henning
Chair of the NY Commmittee on Occupational Safety and Health [NYCOSH]
Joel Shufro
NYCOSH’s Executive Director
Hon. Diane Savino
NYS Senator from Brooklyn
David Michaels
US Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health
Class of 2010
M. Patricia Smith
US Department of Labor
Lillian Roberts
Executive Director of NYC’s District Council 37
Veronica Montgomery-Costa
President of DC 37
Richard D. Winsten, Esq.
Partner
James M. McCarthy, Esq.,
President, TSFFM
Class of 2009
Hon. Hillary R. Clinton
United States Secretary of State
Barbara B. Levine, Esq.
President, Injured Workers Bar Association
Hon. Edward Pitts
Administrative Law Judge, Social Security Administration
Troy Rosasco, Esq.
Co-Chair, NY Workers Compensation Alliance
Randi Weingarten
President, United Federation of Teachers
Class of 2008
Lee Clarke
Health and Safety, DC 37
Dr. Robert Goldberg Director
President, Medical Society of the State of New York
Dr. Stephen Levin
Director, I.J. Selifoff Center – Mt. Sinai
John Sciortino, Esq.
Co-Chair, Workers’ Compensation Alliance
Art Wilcox
NYS AFL-CIO
TSFFM, a recognized 501 ( c )(3) organization incorporated on December 2, 2002, was established to memorialize the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire of March 25, 1911, its impact on changing New York State labor laws, and its role in the creation of the Workers' Compensation law. TSFFM seeks to educate the general public regarding workplace safety and to provide scholarships for the children of workers who died or were permanently disabled as the result of workplace accidents or illnesses.