Governor Hochul: “It's a stand with the working men and women of the proud State of New York, the birthplace of the workers’ rights movement because of what happened right on this block. That is something we tout to the rest of the world.”
Hochul: “We say never again. Our workers deserve to be protected and we will fight to make sure they have those rights … We are built on that, but I'll tell you, never again will we go back to those days when lives are jeopardized so big companies can make more money. Not now, not ever, and definitely not in the great State of New York.
Earlier today, Governor Kathy Hochul delivered remarks at the Triangle Fire memorial dedication in New York City.
VIDEO of the event is available on YouTube here and in TV quality (h.264, mp4) format here.
AUDIO of the event is available here.
PHOTOS of the event will be available on the Governor's Flickr page.
A rush transcript of the Governor's remarks is available below:
Good afternoon. What an extraordinary day this is. First of all, when I became Governor two years ago, I said, “I want my own Frances Perkins.” I found that person in Roberta Reardon. Let's give her another round of applause. She's our champion. She's on the forefront of workers’ rights. We have marched together with SAG-AFTRA. We've marched together at the UAW strikes going on across our state, and we will continue always. It's a stand with the working men and women of the proud State of New York, the birthplace of the workers’ rights movement because of what happened right on this block. That is something we tout to the rest of the world.
And I'm familiar with the labor movement to my core. My grandfather worked in the coke ovens, the burning hot coke ovens at the Bethlehem Steel Plant. My uncles worked there, my dad worked there. I saw the conditions of what they're breathing, what they have to endure. And I have said since that time, “I will be a champion for the workers who do not have the voice or the power that the corporate interests do.” And that's what you have in your Governor today and your government.
I am so proud to be part of this effort to honor the names of those who were lost in that horrific inferno. And Suzanne, thank you for putting a personal touch to it and letting us know – reminding us that these are little girls. They were young people who came here, their parents came here in search of the American Dream. Even a 14-year-old was killed, little Rosa, who had her whole life ahead of her because she was trapped, because no one would spend the money to have an escape for these people knowing that there were dangers that lurked within.
We say never again. Our workers deserve to be protected and we will fight to make sure they have those rights. And as we think of the people coming here in search of the American Dream, the recently arriving migrants, I want to thank my labor team, Roberta Reardon, for working quickly to find jobs. Because all I can say is, they came here to work, let them work. Let them work. Let them work. We need them. We need them. Because this state is so great because of the immigrants, the migrants who came here. They're part of our family. Just like those little girls who worked and toiled here making shirts for the well-to-do ladies to wear in the parks and on their Sunday outings.
We are built on that, but I'll tell you, never again will we go back to those days when lives are jeopardized so big companies can make more money. Not now, not ever, and definitely not in the great State of New York. Thank you, everybody, and it is an honor to have with us our Labor Secretary. Julie Su is a rock star, who is a fighter for men and women. I'm so proud to be on the stage with her as well. Thank you, everybody. Let's carry on the fight.