What are the motifs in Ashes of Roses by Mary Jane Auch?

Unions are a recurring idea. Gussela Garoff is a Woman of Industry. She spends all of her free time campaigning for the International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union and safer conditions for the workers in New York's garment district. Gussie is very serious about the union and often attends meetings to recruit other people that might be interested in joining the union and fighting for safer working conditions, reasonable hours and fair wages. Rose thinks Gussie is far too serious. Garoff wishes Gussie would focus on getting married so that she will have someone to take care of her. Garoff thinks Gussie is wasting her time.