Uprising of the 20000

The New York shirtwaist strike of 1909, also known as the Uprising of the 20,000, was a landmark labor movement led by young, mostly Jewish immigrant women in New York’s garment industry. Sparked by poor working conditions, low wages, and long hours, the strike was organized by the International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union and supported by the National Women's Trade Union League. It began in November 1909 after Clara Lemlich, a Ukrainian-born labor activist, famously called for a general strike. Within days, tens of thousands of workers joined, demanding better pay, shorter hours, and safer conditions. Despite violent opposition from factory owners, the strike gained public attention and elite support from wealthy women dubbed the "mink brigade." The strike ended in early 1910 with partial victories for workers, though major safety concerns remained unaddressed.