Child Labor in the Match Factory by Shayne Saborrido
In the 1800's, many families struggled with poverty and finding ways to support each other. Many parents allowed their children to work in order to get a higher income. Some of these children were as young as four years old and worked for 16 hours a day. They were the ideal employees since factory owners can give them as many work hours as they want for just a small amount of pay.
One job that many young girls had were working in the match factory. They worked from 6:00 in the morning to 10;00 at night only dipping matches into a chemical called phosphorous. This chemical caused yellowing of the teeth, hair loss, and phossy jaw, a type of bone cancer. It also made teeth rot and even caused workers to die from breathing it into their lungs. If any workers were late, they would get fined a half-day's pay. There were also consequences for talking, dropping matches, or going to the bathroom without permission.
On June 23rd, 1888, Annie Besant wrote an article complaining about the ways the match girls were treated at a factory called Bryant & May. In response, the factory forced their workers to sign a statement that states they were happy with their job. When a group of women refused to sign and were fired, 1,400 women went on strike. Immediately, the factory rehired the women who refused. In 1891, the Salvation Army opened its own match factory in Old Ford, East London and only let workers use red phosphorous, which was less harmless than yellow phosphorous. The workers produced six million boxes of matches a year and were paid twice the amount the Bryant & May paid their workers. Since the Bryant & May received bad publicity, the company reconsidered their policy and improved the health benefits for everyone at their factory.
One job that many young girls had were working in the match factory. They worked from 6:00 in the morning to 10;00 at night only dipping matches into a chemical called phosphorous. This chemical caused yellowing of the teeth, hair loss, and phossy jaw, a type of bone cancer. It also made teeth rot and even caused workers to die from breathing it into their lungs. If any workers were late, they would get fined a half-day's pay. There were also consequences for talking, dropping matches, or going to the bathroom without permission.
On June 23rd, 1888, Annie Besant wrote an article complaining about the ways the match girls were treated at a factory called Bryant & May. In response, the factory forced their workers to sign a statement that states they were happy with their job. When a group of women refused to sign and were fired, 1,400 women went on strike. Immediately, the factory rehired the women who refused. In 1891, the Salvation Army opened its own match factory in Old Ford, East London and only let workers use red phosphorous, which was less harmless than yellow phosphorous. The workers produced six million boxes of matches a year and were paid twice the amount the Bryant & May paid their workers. Since the Bryant & May received bad publicity, the company reconsidered their policy and improved the health benefits for everyone at their factory.
Citations
"Spartacus Educational." Spartacus Educational. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Nov. 2012. <http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/TUmatchgirls.htm>.
"Industrial Revolution." Industrial Revolution. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Nov. 2012. <http://www.nettlesworth.durham.sch.uk/time/victorian/vindust.html>.
"Industrial Revolution." Industrial Revolution. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Nov. 2012. <http://www.nettlesworth.durham.sch.uk/time/victorian/vindust.html>.
Biographical Narrative about a Match Girl
https://docs.google.com/a/amcanhs.nvusd.k12.ca.us/document/d/10NBJg4vqRgerRQQP2rjZ4dDbMuJW-phxtqz4B6SRq20/edit