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 Preshow Return to index of stories... |
Next on New Hampshire Outlook. |
| Hello Return to index of stories... |
Hello. I'm Allison McNair. Welcome to NH Outlook. |
| Intro Lighting Up Return to index of stories... |
More than 170 years ago New Hampshire was a very different place. Especially for workers. A new documentary about the women millworkers strike at the Dover Textile mills in 1828 sheds light on their harsh life and experiences. It was produced by Brenda Whitmore, a graduate of the University of New Hampshire. It's called "The Lighting Up". Chip Neal has the story. |
| The Lighting Up Return to index of stories... |
lighting up Opening of doc. Quote from John Greenleaf Whittier. "Every which falls from these restless looms has a history more or less connected with sin and suffering, beginning with slavery and ending with overwork and premature death." Doc continues. with vo "management would often try to diminish the awful effect of long hours under artificial light by sponsoring festive "Lighting Up" balls in September when the oil lamps were lit to extend the hours of work. The workers despised the lighting up and the long hours of work under artificial light. While the owners only viewed it as a necessity to keep production and profits up." Chip standup "it took Brenda Whitmore 3 years and the help of many friends and volunteers to make this documentary. It was about the courageous women who worked here at the Dover Textile mills back in 1828. Because it was these women who staged the very first, ever, in the country, all womens strike. Brenda - walking toward camera in large empty loom room. "I would like you to try to imagine what it was like to work in these mills back in 1828. Where machinery would have lined both sides of the wall. Where people would have been crammed in together. Maybe 80 to 100 in this space. Where the air would have been filled with particles of dust and linen. And where it would it have been extremely humid, and where the noise would have been deafening and you couldn't have heard what your neighbor said to you if you wanted to. And the poundings from the machines would come up through your bodies for 14 to 16 hours a day. And what it must have been like to work in that environment day after day after day. It's clear that many of the women had health conditions associated with these conditions. And for many of them their careers were shortened as a result. Doc. "accidents in the mills, often unreported, maimed and killed workers, dangerous conditions added to the list of grievances that fueled protests and motivated the workers to form combinations or unions challenging the mill owners to improve safety and conditions in the factories. Brenda - "they struck in 1828 in the Dover mills because the management changed from local control to Boston control. And when the Boston management came in they started to enforce the rules with fervor. If you were late you lost ¼ of your pay if you were late after the bell. You couldn't talk to your coworkers while you were working and they often time had delays between their activities. They couldn't read any material in the mill, they couldn't organize in any way. Their whole lives became severely controlled and regulated by the Boston associates. And then with the reduction in their pay. That was the straw that broke the camels back. And at the same time the men's wages was not reduced. So, the felt there were some clear inequities. Shot Bell tower hear bells Brenda - "when the bells rang they had so many minutes to get to the gates. When the bells stopped ringing the gates were closed. And if you missed the last gate, this was after the new management, your wages would be docked a significant amount of your wages before you would be allowed back into the mill to resume your job. So, the clock and the bells regulated every workers life everyday while they were engaged in the activity in the mill. Bell tower hear bell Brenda. - it's calculated the any where between four and six hundred women actually organized and at the signal all left the mill simultaneously. They had banners that were made, they had secured gun powder, and they had musical instruments. They paraded down the street, they set off the gun powder, and played their musical instruments. These were all techniques that men had used to gain attention during public protests. This was the first time women had ever engaged in a public display were the had used these kinds of techniques. And of course they were not well received by the manufacturers or the press, which was controlled by the organizations which controlled the mills. Doc. "the girls on leaving the factory yard formed a procession at least a half mile in length and marched through the town with martial music and the accompaniment of the roar of artillery. The whole presented one of the most disgusting scenes ever witnessed. December 30th 1828" Brenda "as far as immediate relief to the workers that was not what was realized, what was realized was that they were making the first steps in significant long term changes that would occur in the 1830's , 40's, 50's and 60's. In terms of what happened to the women. Clearly the women that were the leaders were blacklisted. And the blacklist was one of the most feared instruments that management had because what would happen, especially in the boarding house system, is that if you were put on the blacklist you were no longer able to obtain or acquire work in any of the mill structures throughout the region. So the blacklist became a focal point for continued organization and protest into the 1840's and 1850's in which legislation would be enacted specifically to address the long hours of labor, unsafe and unhealthy working conditions and that blacklist that management would use to control workers. Doc. "the road to improvement and respect would be long and hard. But the light of subtle revolution had been set in motion, and there would be no turning back - the lighting up had begun. |
| Intro workforce Return to index of stories... |
The courage of the women working in the Dover mills is amazing. Thanks to their efforts and others - things are much better today for all workers. But there are new issues emerging in the 21st century.Joining me to talk more about that.Brenda Whitmore the Documentary Creator, Mark McKenzie, President of the AFL-CIO and Brian Gottlob, President of Poli-Con Research - Brian has worked on a study looking at employment trends in New Hampshire. |
| Workforce Return to index of stories... |
Mark McKenzie - Pres. AFL-CIO - pension issues - women generally start working later than men. - Social Security - More concern about benefits/flex hours/ family leave - Safety and health issues - Youth in the labor - neglect for education / dead end jobs *** Brian Gottlob - President, Poli-Con Research, former BIA member, Trends and issues of NH workforce. Education plays large role in working conditions salaries women have experienced higher salary increases over last ten years because many come from out of state with degrees. - growth in the immigrant workforce / low wage employment/ exploitive type jobs/ sweat shop is back/ meat processing, electronic assembly, services / various degrees of education / undocumented workers |
| Stock Markets Return to index of stories... |
Briefly in the news Thursday. The stock market snapped back late in the da. By the closing bell, the Dow was down about a dozen points, much improved from the 200-point setback seen midday. The Nasdaq to rose 28 points and the S-and-P 500 gained nearly seven points. Analysts say market psychology remains decidedly negative in the wake of a series of accounting scandals. |
| Redistricting Return to index of stories... |
The State Supreme Court amended its map of state Senate districts Thursday. Despite some discrepancies in data, it will use the census for drawing the boundaries in District 16, 18 and 20 in Manchester and decided to modify only Dictricts 12 and 13 in Nashua. The court also extended the filing period for districts affected by the changes. |
| Pay Phone Return to index of stories... |
Verizon can't hang up the only pay phone in Acworth. Verizon wanted to pull the phone from the small Sullivan County town because it wasn't making enough money. The state Public Utilities Commission says the phone is needed for public safety and will stay. even though it rarely is used for more than three calls a day. A hearing will be held in the fall to decide how to pay for it. |
| Intro Haller Return to index of stories... |
It drives him crazy when he sees commercials with moms making cookies from premade dough. He thinks parents should be spending time with their children teaching them how to cook. He also thinks Emeril will go down in history for his role in bringing men into the kitchen and making cooking macho. He's James Haller - author and renowned chef. And we had a chance to visit him in his kitchen in South Berwick Maine. |
| Haller Return to index of stories... |
Chef and author James Haller talks about his new book Vie de France and mixes in amusing anecdotes about cooking and life. Host Allison McNair learns how to make a peach tart. |
| Tag Haller Return to index of stories... |
If you'd like to meet Jim and get him to sign his new book - he'll be in Scarborough Maine just south of Portland at Nonesuch Books - July 23rd. |
| intro arts calendar Return to index of stories... |
Whether it's art, music or theater you're looking for, we have a little bit of everything in this week's arts calendar. |
| Art Calendar Return to index of stories... |
Arts Jubilee Concert\July 11\North Conway\603 356-9393 Music of America\July 12\North Conway\603 856-0608 All Together Now- Tribute To The Beatles\July 12\Berlin\603 752-2880 The Art of Sight and Sound: The Baroque Era Through Impressionism\July 14\Manchester\603 669-6144 ext 108 \Light Impressions - Opening Reception\July 12\Orford\603 353-4158 Uncommon Threads: New Twists on Texitle Art\July 13 thru Sept 2\Manchester\603 669-6144 ext 108 10th Annual Juried Summer Exhibition\July 19\Lebanon\603 448-3117 Witness To The Prosecution\July 16-July 20\Tamworth\603 323-8500 Gypsy\July 16-July 21\New London\603 526-6710 |
| Tomorrow Return to index of stories... |
On the next New Hampshire Outlook - It's our Friday Edition. Journalists from around the state will join us to discuss the week’s top stories. |
| Goodnight Return to index of stories... |
That's it for this edition of our program. For all of us here at New Hampshire Public Television, I'm Ally McNair. Thanks for joining us. We'll see you next time on New Hampshire Outlook. |
| founders Return to index of stories... |
Thanks to our founding sponsors who have provided major funding for the production of New Hampshire Outlook: New Hampshire Charitable Foundation Public Service of New Hampshire Alice J. Reen Charitable Trust Putnam Foundation Stratford Foundation |
| WEB PROMO Return to index of stories... |
Tonight on New Hampshire Outlook. It's our Friday Edition. Journalists from around the state will join us to discuss the week’s top stories. Tonight at 10pm on New Hampshire Public Television. |
| key: arts / culture Return to index of stories... |
NEW HAMPSHIRE OUTLOOK Air Date/Time:7/11/02 / 2200 HOST: Allison McNair Length: 5:00 In addition to a summary of the day's top New Hampshire stories, this edition of New Hampshire Outlook, NHPTV's nightly news magazine, included a report on a new documentary about the women millworkers strike at the Dover Textile mills in 1828 sheds light on their harsh life and experiences. It was produced by Brenda Whitmore, a graduate of the University of New Hampshire. It's called "The Lighting Up". PRODUCER/REPORTER: Chip Neal NAME OF PARTICIPANTS: Brenda Whitmore, Documentary Film maker |
| key: business / economy Return to index of stories... |
NEW HAMPSHIRE OUTLOOK Air Date/Time:7/11/02 / 2200 HOST: Allison McNair Length: 10:00 In addition to a summary of the day's top New Hampshire stories, this edition of New Hampshire Outlook, NHPTV's nightly news magazine, included a discussion on employment trends in the state. PRODUCER/REPORTER: Allison Mcnair NAME OF PARTICIPANTS: Mark MacKenzie\President, NH AFL-CIO Brian Gottlob\President, PolEcon Research Brenda Whitmore\Documentary Creator |
| Tonight 10:00 Return to index of stories... |
Tonight on New Hampshire Outlook. Join us tonight at 10:00 only on New Hampshire Outlook. |
| Rents Return to index of stories... |
AP-NH--Rents dewho N.H. rents still going up -- Boosted by a housing shortage in the southern part of the state, rents in New Hampshire continue to rise. The New Hampshire Housing Finance Agency annual rental cost survey shows the median two-bedroom rent has reached 884 dollars a month, eight percent higher than last year's 818 dollar figure. The median cost for all apartments statewide is 810 dollars, up from 738 last year. Agency Director Claira Monier says the prices show the supply of housing in southern New Hampshire is far short of demand. Monier says more apartments must be built if the state can expect its economy to continue to grow. The highest rents are in Rockingham County, where the median rent for a two-bedroom apartment is one-thousand-nine dollars. |
| Water Company Return to index of stories... |
AP-NH--Water Company Sale dewman Nashua, three towns fight water company sale -- Officials in Nashua are joining three neighboring towns to slow down the sale of Pennichuck Water Works, the regional water company, to a Pennsylvania company. Philadelphia Suburban Corporation already has won federal approval to buy Pennichuck. State hearings still have to be held. Nashua, Milford, Amherst and Hollis plan to file petitions with the state Public Utilities Commission to act as interveners in the acquisition. Mayor Bernie Streeter says the safety of the areas watershed is at stake. He says the city needs more time to study the economic and environmental ramifications of the acquisition. Nashua also is considering buying the company. |