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Life in the mills was difficult. Workers were on the job at 5 am. At 6 am they stopped for an hour-long breakfast. Dinner came at 12:15 pm for 45 minutes. Supper was at 6:30 pm for 45 minutes. Most worked until 9 pm for six days a week.
There were no legal regulations of hours or conditions of labor in Massachusetts before 1874. It was a person's privilege, an inherent liberty, to work as many hours as he or she chooses - but of course, there was a need for food and shelter. To some extent, all immigrant groups shared the problems of low wages, long hours and poor working conditions.
However, not all immigrants and migrants worked in the mills. Many started ethnic restaurants, grocery stores, shoe stores, and watch stores.
