Homestead Works Steel Strike of 1892:
Read the following description of the Homestead Steel Strike of 1892. Define the boldfaced words. Write down
A timeline of the order of events that took place in 1892. Next record the causes, course, and consequences of the strike.
Andrew Carnegie was one of the wealthiest capitalists in America at the turn of the 20th century. Born in Scotland, this 13 year-old immigrant to the US, grew up in a poor, working class family who believed that workers should vote & run for Parliament to improve workplace conditions. As a successful businessman, Carnegie claimed to support the working class & unions. These unions, or organizations of workers formed to protect and further their rights, did not always please Carnegie, the businessman. He knew that successful business practices did not always favor employees or unions. So he did not always give in to union demands. Carnegie even cut his workers' wages to spare his company’s downturn in 1892.
Henry Clay Frick, Carnegie’s head of management at the Homestead Works steel mill, was born in Pennsylvania to a poor family. He became very wealthy by manufacturing coke [a fuel made from coal] and by breaking union strikes. In 1881, he and Carnegie merged their companies, but Frick lost his stock to Carnegie. Friction developed between the two as Carnegie expressed his pro-labor feelings in opposition to Frick’s anti-union sentiment.
Labor conflicts turned violent when employees tried to make their concerns heard and company management suppressed their actions with force. Unions fought for better hours, decent working conditions and fair wages. In 1892, a conflict at the Homestead mill arose between labor and management over wage cuts.
The cut was caused by the price of rolled-steel declining, dropping from $35 a gross ton to $22 by 1892. In the face of
these cut prices, Frick, general manager of the Homestead plant owned by Carnegie, was determined to cut wages and break the Amalgamated Association of Iron and Steel Workers union, one of the strongest craft unions in the country.
The city of Homestead, east of Pittsburg, wanted to remain unionized. It depended on the steel industry for its livelihood, but the employees were willing to fight to the death to save their union. The Amalgamated Association of Iron and Steel Workers had about 750 members out of the 3800 at the mill. The workers’ contract was expiring in July1892. Wages had been arranged between the company and the union, according to a sliding scale based on the market price of steel. The current agreement was about to expire, and the workers called for an increase in pay because steel prices were better and the output of the mill increased. Frick demanded negotiations with individuals, not the union. But Homestead’s employees refused to talk to Frick. They wanted union representatives to negotiate. So 3000 steel men voted to strike. Frick responded by building a huge fence around the mill. Frick shutdown operations on June 28, 1892. Employees felt that they had a right to go to work, so they took over the mill. Newspaper headlines read: “LATEST DEVELOPMENTS IN HOMESTEAD — FAMILIES OF
STRIKERS EVICTED FROM THE COMPANY HOUSES.”
On July 6, 1892, Frick called in 325 Pinkerton Agents from New York to protect the company. They were floating down the Monongahela River on two barges attempting to land on the property of the Carnegie Steel Company. When the barges got within range, the Pinkertons fired on the strikers, without warning, killing a number of men on shore, among them a little boy. Workers rushed the Pinkertons to stop them from coming ashore. They tossed dynamite on the barges and pumped oil onto the river to set it aflame. For 14 hours a battle raged. The Pinkertons surrendered and were forced to come ashore and run through a line of workers and their families who brutalized and beat them. Three Pinkertons and seven employees were killed. On July 12, 8500 Pennsylvania National Guard went to Homestead to restore order. They stayed until November.
On July 23, Alexander Berkman, an anarchist or anti-government terrorist, entered Frick's office & shot him twice in the neck and then stabbed him twice. Frick was not killed, but the attack was considered by many to be linked to the strikers.
On Sept. 30, 33 steelworkers are charged with treason. By November, the strike had failed. Employees returned to work after the union called off the strike. Many employees and all of the strike leaders had been black-listed, labeled as suspicious persons put on a list for businesses to read and not hire. Authorities charged the strike leaders with murder & 160 other strikers with lesser crimes. However, sympathetic juries would convict none of the men.
In the end the Carnegie Company swept unions out of Homestead. In the future, Carnegie refused to hire union workers, and the steel industry in general failed to effectively unionize until the 1930s.
Read the primary sources. Interpret the evidence each provides regarding Carnegie’s involvement the Homestead Steel Strike. What role did Carnegie play in the Homestead Strike? Can he be blamed or credited for the actions of management in the strike? Respond in writing after reading each document.
Communications from Carnegie in Scotland to Frick in Pennsylvania.
1. May 4--Letter to Henry Frick from Andrew Carnegie in Scotland
"One thing we are all sure of: No contest will be entered in that will fail… We all approve of anything you do, not stopping short of approval of a contest. We are with you to the end."
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2. June 10--Telegram to Henry Frick from Andrew Carnegie in Scotland
“The chances are, you will have to prepare for a struggle, in which case the notice should go up promptly on the morning of June 25th. Of course you will win, and win easier than you suppose, owing the present condition of the markets.
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3. July 7--Telegram to Henry Frick from Andrew Carnegie in Scotland
"Cable received. All anxiety gone since you stand firm. Never employ one of these rioters. Must not fail now. You will win
easily next trial. Have not spoken, written, or cabled one word to anybody. Shall continue silent. Am with you to the end whether works runs this year, next, or ever. No longer a question of wages or dollars.”
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5. July 17--Letter from Andrew Carnegie to cousin
"Matters at home bad -- such a fiasco trying to send guards by Boat and then leaving space between River & fences for the men to get opposite landing and fire. Still we must keep quiet & do all we can to support Frick & those at Seat of War. I have been besieged by interviewing Cables from N York but have not said a word. Silence is best. We shall win, of course, but may have to shut down for months."
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November 18--Telegram from Henry Frick to Andrew Carnegie at end of lockout
"Victory!"
November 21--Telegram from Henry Frick to Andrew Carnegie
"Strike officially declared off yesterday. Our victory is now complete and most gratifying. Do not think we will ever have any serious labor trouble again.... Let the Amalgamated still exist and hold full sway at other people's mills. That is no concern of ours."
6. Late November--Telegram From Andrew Carnegie to Henry Frick (sent from Italy)
"Life is worth living again -- Cables received -- first happy morning since July -- surprising how pretty Italia -- congratulate all around -- improve works -go ahead -- clear track -- tariff not in it -- shake."
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7. Late December--Letter to Henry Frick to Andrew Carnegie
"Think I'm about ten years older than when with you last. Europe has rung with Homestead, Homestead, until we are sick of the name, but it is all over now-So once again Happy New Year to all. I wish someone would write me about your good self. I cannot believe you can be well.
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