This day in history

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farm strike

A movement to unionize the workforce

Causes of the strike

• The price of steel began to fall.
• Carnegie goes on vacation and puts Frick in charge.
• Frick wanted to cut wages and break up the union.
• The union contract was coming to an end and Frick took advantage of this.
• Workers were dissatisfied with the long work hours they received and low wages.

Results and meaning

• The people who led the union rebellion were arrested and new people were put in charge of the plant, they were hired by Henry Clay Frick.
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• Carnegie's reputation was damaged, but he was one of the richest men on Earth.
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• Importance: The workers rose up against the management and this helped promote their rights.

The strike

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• Frick blocks the workers by building a large fence covered in barbed wire around the plant: known as Fort Frick.
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• 7/2/1892: Frick lays off 3,800 workers
• 7/6/1892: Hires 300 Pinkerton agents to occupy the workers' plant.
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• Thousands of workers and families surround the plant to prevent agents from occupying the plant
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• The next 12 hours: They started shooting at each other.

In 1892, the Carnegie Steel Company in Homestead, Pennsylvania, laid off workers from the Amalgamated Association of the Iron and Steel Workers Union. A bloody confrontation ensued between workers and security guards hired by Pinkerton, ultimately killing 16 people and injuring many.

The subsequent strike lasted more than four months. The militia entered Homestead, Congress held hearings at Homestead, thirty-three steelworkers were charged with treason, and anarchist Alexander Birkman attempted to assassinate Carnegie Steel Company president Henry Clay Frick. In the end, the Amalged Association union voted to end work restrictions at Carnegie St.

Carnegie Steel Company, leaving the union virtually destroyed. The strike inspired workers, but highlighted how difficult it was for unions to challenge the combined power of corporations and the government.

Union

• Amalgamated Iron and Steel Workers Association, which was one of the strongest craft unions.
• Not all workers were in the union.
• Took a stand against Carnegie Steel Co.