Overview The Homestead strike was a strike on July 6, 1892, at the Homestead Iron Mills in Homestead, Pennsylvania. The Mill was owned by Andrew Carnegie and run by Henry Frick. Out of 3,800 workers at the mill, 750 of them belonged to the Amalgamed Association of Iron and Steel Workers Union. In the spring of 1892 Carnegie set off to spend the summer months abroad in England. Carnegie left Frick in charge of the mills. In June the worker’s contract was due to be up. In order to break up the union, Frick refused to re-hire any of the employees until the union was completely dissolved.
The Company Perspective Unions were very dangerous to major companies, like Carnegie’s steel company. Having workers in a powerful union means they will demand higher pay and better working conditions, thus the company makes less profit than otherwise they would. For this reason, the company wanted to dissolve the union. Frick announced to workers that no contracts would be renewed unless the union was gone. The public reason was not wanting to be in a contract with a union. If the workers did not cooperate, the mill was threatened to be closed.
The Worker’s Perspective
The workers joined the union for equal rights, decent pay, and reasonable working conditions. The union assured them protection of these rights. If the union was shut down, then the company could pay them whatever they desired and make them work under any conditions. Needless to say, the workers were outraged. Frick threatening to close the mill sent them over the edge. The Strike On July 6, 1892 the strike broke out. The majority of workers showed up at the riot. When Frick heard of the large numbers of people, he ordered 300 Pinkerton guards to control the riot. The Pinkertons were a private protection company based in Pennsylvania. The 300 Pinkertons pulled up the canals along the mill and were met with gun fire from the crowds. By the late afternoon the guards surrendered. After surrendering the guard agreed to surrender their weapons in return for a safe pass through town. Though they were offered a safe pass, the town’s people attacked them with whatever scraps they could find. Not a single Pinkerton made it out without being injured. To end the strike, the Pennsylvania Militia had to be called in.
Men work to break up the strike on June 6, 1892 on the Homestead Mills
What’s Next? The workers finally returned to work soon after. Carnegie said that if the workers did not re-apply by July 21, they would have no job. On July 23, Frick was shot by a factory worker by the name of Alexander Berkman. Overall the public ended up taking the side of the mill workers. Carnegie was strongly condemned for letting the situation get this far.
The Militia had to be called in to finally end the strike
Overview
The Homestead strike was a strike on July 6, 1892, at the Homestead Iron Mills in Homestead, Pennsylvania. The Mill was owned by Andrew Carnegie and run by Henry Frick. Out of 3,800 workers at the mill, 750 of them belonged to the Amalgamed Association of Iron and Steel Workers Union. In the spring of 1892 Carnegie set off to spend the summer months abroad in England. Carnegie left Frick in charge of the mills. In June the worker’s contract was due to be up. In order to break up the union, Frick refused to re-hire any of the employees until the union was completely dissolved.
The Company Perspective
Unions were very dangerous to major companies, like Carnegie’s steel company. Having workers in a powerful union means they will demand higher pay and better working conditions, thus the company makes less profit than otherwise they would. For this reason, the company wanted to dissolve the union. Frick announced to workers that no contracts would be renewed unless the union was gone. The public reason was not wanting to be in a contract with a union. If the workers did not cooperate, the mill was threatened to be closed.
The Worker’s Perspective
The workers joined the union for equal rights, decent pay, and reasonable working conditions. The union assured them protection of these rights. If the union was shut down, then the company could pay them whatever they desired and make them work under any conditions. Needless to say, the workers were outraged. Frick threatening to close the mill sent them over the edge.
The Strike
On July 6, 1892 the strike broke out. The majority of workers showed up at the riot. When Frick heard of the large numbers of people, he ordered 300 Pinkerton guards to control the riot. The Pinkertons were a private protection company based in Pennsylvania. The 300 Pinkertons pulled up the canals along the mill and were met with gun fire from the crowds. By the late afternoon the guards surrendered. After surrendering the guard agreed to surrender their weapons in return for a safe pass through town. Though they were offered a safe pass, the town’s people attacked them with whatever scraps they could find. Not a single Pinkerton made it out without being injured. To end the strike, the Pennsylvania Militia had to be called in.
What’s Next?
The workers finally returned to work soon after. Carnegie said that if the workers did not re-apply by July 21, they would have no job. On July 23, Frick was shot by a factory worker by the name of Alexander Berkman. Overall the public ended up taking the side of the mill workers. Carnegie was strongly condemned for letting the situation get this far.
Sources-pictures
http://www.americanhistory.abc-clio.com/Search/Display.aspx?categoryid=4&entryid=1074651&searchtext=homestead+strike&type=simple&option=all&searchsites=4,5,6,7,8,
http://www.americanhistory.abc-clio.com/Search/Display.aspx?categoryid=4&entryid=907449&searchtext=homestead+strike&type=simple&option=all&searchsites=4,5,6,7,8,
Sources
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/carnegie/peopleevents/pande04.html
American and the Robber Barons; Boadrman W., Fon
http://hn.bigchalk.com/hnweb/hn/do/document?set=search&start=1&rendition=x-article-image&inmylist=false&urn=urn%3Aproquest%3AUS%3BPQDOC%3BHNP%3BPQD%3BHNP%3BPROD%3Bx-article-image%3B106210193&mylisturn=urn%3Aproquest%3AUS%3BPQDOC%3BHNP%3BPQD%3BHNP%3BPROD%3Bx-citation%3B106210193