Not given her due: Frances Perkins
There is a woman who has affected essentially almost every American's life; but most don't know her name, Frances Perkins. Does your place of employment have fire exits? Or actually any public building you go in? Do you have a 40 hour work week? Tho it's low, do yo at least make minimum wage? Do you get social security? Have you received unemployment insurance? Worker's Comp? These are just some of her contributions to Americans.
Her safety endeavors were accomplished while she was on the committee after the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire. She saw the women jumping firsthand. The safety laws established in New York, spread across the country.
When FDR became governor of New York in 1928, he appointed her the state's industrial commissioner, overseeing the labor department. Frances saw that the depression was coming and publicly countered Hoover, who claimed the economy and employment were doing good. She saw the unemployment numbers rising. She wanted to develop some kind of unemployment insurance and FDR sent her to the UK to study their system.
When FDR was elected president, he asked Frances to be his Secretary of Labor, the first woman in a presidential cabinet. She agreed only if he would let her: establish a 40 hour work week, a minimum wage, social security, unemployment insurance, worker's comp, no more child labor, and universal health care. FDR agreed. She accomplished all except universal health care.
President Carter renamed the labor department building after her during his presidency.
I first learned of her in 2018 (!) when I took labor law. I ended up reading Kirstin Downey's The Woman Behind the New Deal which is an EXCELLENT biography of Frances.
Her safety endeavors were accomplished while she was on the committee after the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire. She saw the women jumping firsthand. The safety laws established in New York, spread across the country.
When FDR became governor of New York in 1928, he appointed her the state's industrial commissioner, overseeing the labor department. Frances saw that the depression was coming and publicly countered Hoover, who claimed the economy and employment were doing good. She saw the unemployment numbers rising. She wanted to develop some kind of unemployment insurance and FDR sent her to the UK to study their system.
When FDR was elected president, he asked Frances to be his Secretary of Labor, the first woman in a presidential cabinet. She agreed only if he would let her: establish a 40 hour work week, a minimum wage, social security, unemployment insurance, worker's comp, no more child labor, and universal health care. FDR agreed. She accomplished all except universal health care.
President Carter renamed the labor department building after her during his presidency.
I first learned of her in 2018 (!) when I took labor law. I ended up reading Kirstin Downey's The Woman Behind the New Deal which is an EXCELLENT biography of Frances.