Pauline Newman (labor activist)
Encyclopedia
Pauline M. Newman was an American labor activist.
Born in Kaunas
, Lithuania
, Newman was the daughter of Jewish-American immigrants and was raised in New York City
. Like many poor immigrants, she went into the workforce at a young age. In 1901, she started working in a shirtwaist (a type of blouse) factory, the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory. Most of the workers were young girls from childhood through their 20s, and the children of Jewish or Italian immigrants. They worked everyday of the week, but weren't paid on the weekends.
In 1907, the 20-year-old Newman helped organize a rent strike in lower Manhattan of 10,000 families. It lasted from December 26 until January 9 and led to about 2,000 families in having their rents reduced.
Eventually Newman left and joined the International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union
(ILGWU). She became ILGWU's first full-time woman organizer and spoke at the 1909 strike of 20,000 workers in garmet industry. After the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire
in 1911, the ILGWU and the harsh working conditions of immigrant women, gained more attention and sympathy from mainstream America. She founded the ILGWU's Health Center and was Director of Health Education from 1918 to 1980. Newman was also Advisor to the United States Department of Labor
in the 1930s and 1940s. She was also the Vice President of the New York and National Women's Trade Union League
(WTUL), in the 1920s–1940s.
Born in Kaunas
Kaunas
Kaunas is the second-largest city in Lithuania and has historically been a leading centre of Lithuanian economic, academic, and cultural life. Kaunas was the biggest city and the center of a powiat in Trakai Voivodeship of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania since 1413. During Russian Empire occupation...
, Lithuania
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
, Newman was the daughter of Jewish-American immigrants and was raised in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. Like many poor immigrants, she went into the workforce at a young age. In 1901, she started working in a shirtwaist (a type of blouse) factory, the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory. Most of the workers were young girls from childhood through their 20s, and the children of Jewish or Italian immigrants. They worked everyday of the week, but weren't paid on the weekends.
In 1907, the 20-year-old Newman helped organize a rent strike in lower Manhattan of 10,000 families. It lasted from December 26 until January 9 and led to about 2,000 families in having their rents reduced.
Eventually Newman left and joined the International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union
International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union
The International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union was once one of the largest labor unions in the United States, one of the first U.S. unions to have a primarily female membership, and a key player in the labor history of the 1920s and 1930s...
(ILGWU). She became ILGWU's first full-time woman organizer and spoke at the 1909 strike of 20,000 workers in garmet industry. After the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire
Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire
The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire in New York City on March 25, 1911, was the deadliest industrial disaster in the history of the city of New York and resulted in the fourth highest loss of life from an industrial accident in U.S. history...
in 1911, the ILGWU and the harsh working conditions of immigrant women, gained more attention and sympathy from mainstream America. She founded the ILGWU's Health Center and was Director of Health Education from 1918 to 1980. Newman was also Advisor to the United States Department of Labor
United States Department of Labor
The United States Department of Labor is a Cabinet department of the United States government responsible for occupational safety, wage and hour standards, unemployment insurance benefits, re-employment services, and some economic statistics. Many U.S. states also have such departments. The...
in the 1930s and 1940s. She was also the Vice President of the New York and National Women's Trade Union League
Women's Trade Union League
The Women's Trade Union League was a U.S. organization of both working class and more well-off women formed in 1903 to support the efforts of women to organize labor unions and to eliminate sweatshop conditions...
(WTUL), in the 1920s–1940s.