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Ireland (Historical Counties) => Ireland => Topic started by: DolphinsBarn on Monday 03 September 18 19:39 BST (UK)
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Is there a good source for understanding how word of garment factory jobs spread in the late 1800s? Seems like large numbers of Eastern European immigrants (Russian, Lithuanian) would work in one city (such as Glasgow) and then move on to another (like Leeds). Was this for better pay or better working conditions or other reasons? These moves often appear to have involved extended families.
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Er, this is the Ireland board....
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Perhaps connected to OP's two other posts?
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=418378.msg6571504#msg6571504
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=799722.msg6572010#msg6572010
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I have only seen brief mentions in social history textbooks (several years ago, and I can't recall which ones!) As far as I understand it, the "cottage industry" garment makers would follow the jobs - which would mean moving to areas near (or with good transport such as canals) to the textile factories which were predominantly in Lancashire or Yorkshire. It wouldn't necessarily have been for improved pay or conditions - more likely that local work dried up due to competition or fashion changes.
Given the level of literacy and the cost of newspapers I suspect most people would not read an advertisement for jobs but would rely on word of mouth.