25 Years of Struggle: Cannon Mills Union Victory

As one of the first industries to operate in what could be recognized as a factory, the textile industry is uniquely associated with the beginning of the Industrial Revolution. The first textile factory in the US was established in Boston in 1813. Poor working conditions meant that industrial accidents plagued the industry; the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire for example killed 146 workers. Despite the dangerous factories, long hours, and poor wages associated with the work, labor organizing did not begin in earnest until the turn of the century with the founding of the United Textile Workers (UTW). The union quickly gained prominence, growing to 270,000 members by 1934. Industry leaders acted quickly to crush the union, however, and following an unsuccessful strike campaign, its membership had dwindled to just 37,000 workers in 1937. UTW membership was able to recover by the 1960s as the union expanded its organizing efforts southward. Unfortunately, textile union membership declined again as many textile plants moved overseas; an estimated 95% of the looms in the American South have shut down since the 1970s.

Today, much of the world’s textiles and clothes come from China and India. Firms have taken advantage of low labor costs and minimal safety regulations in those countries to produce more fabric and clothing at cheaper costs. Unsurprisingly, this shift in textile production resulted in deplorable working conditions. Pay for example is very low; garment workers in Bangladesh make an average of $95 per month. Additionally, many garment laborers work in unsafe conditions. Industrial accidents are all too common; 131 garment workers died in 56 accidents in 2021.

Further Reading:

• Laboring Against Racism: The Textile Workers Union of America in the South during the 1960s: https://www.wrightswriting.com/post/2020/07/19/laboring-against-racism-the-textile-workers-union-of-america-in-the-south-during-the-1960

• United Textile Workers: https://www.encyclopedia.com/history/dictionaries-thesauruses-pictures-and-press-releases/united-textile-workers

• Factbox: Grief and neglect - 10 factory disasters in South Asia: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-india-fire-workers-factbox/factbox-grief-and-neglect-10-factory-disasters-in-south-asia-idUSKBN1YE1PT

• Minimum Wage Level for Garment Workers in the World (Updated in December 2020): https://shenglufashion.com/2020/12/04/minimum-wage-level-for-garment-workers-in-the-world-updated-in-december-2020/