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Homestead, Pennsylvania -- The Homestead strike all started when workers at Carnegie Steel Mill were treated unfairly and poorly. Andrew Carnegie, captain of industry in steel and owner of Carnegie Steel Mill, had been on vacation in Scotland while the whole thing occurred. Because Mr. Carnegie was on vacation, Henry Clay Frick took over as he played a huge role during the strike. The contract between the workers at the mill and Carnegie Steel Mill had been due to end on July 30, 1892 when this whole mess started. Frick had done many things to annoy the steel workers which in return the laborers declared strike against the Carnegie Steel Mill. The laborers were from the Amalgamated Association of Iron and Steel Workers union.
First, Frick had made a contract that he knew none of the steelworkers would accept. Then, Frick built a twelve foot wooden fence around the plant to stop workers from coming in. When June 30 arrived, Frick closed the Homestead plant. In result, the laborers declared strike against the Carnegie Steel Mill. Hundreds of agents of the Pinkerton National Detective Agency were ready and had been on duty to help secure the Carnegie Steel Mill against striking workers. Today, on the day of July 6, a lot of violence just took place near the steel mill. During this strike, there was a violent battle between the workers and Pinkerton agents during the afternoon. Many gun shots rang out during the battle. The battle is still going on currently as 6 people have died already. Right now it looks like the Pinkerton agents will surrender, as the angry workers are beating them.
Violent Strike at Homestead Factory Gets Tense
By: Ankit Kumar