HOMESTEAD STRIKE STRIKES BACK!
By: Lexi Burroughs
The people on strike fought back! They put fences up to block out the newly hired steel workers. We asked Mr. Carnegie what he has planned to get his workers back, but he has no comment. However, Mr. Carnegie’s spokesperson said they have plans to bring in security guards. The workers on strike said they would not stop until they get what they want; more money, eight-hour workdays, and no child labor. I interviewed the leader of the group, and he spoke to me about his plans for this strike. He told me about what is going on on the inside. Apparently, they are going to hire in more people to replace them! I wonder how the strikers are going to feel about that. Mr. Vanderbilt says that he will not give up until he has people working in his factories again. He does not care if it is the same workers or different ones. Because of the new technological advances, his workers do not need to have experience. A gunshot was fired! Everything is going terribly wrong! The workers are now not on strike, but practically in war!
We returned to the scene a few days later, to find out that the workers had been hired and worked longer hours and lower wages. This was a major step back from what the AFL (American Federation of Labor) had originally set out to do. The people standing by me have told me, that corporations have seen what Mr. Vanderbilt did. They now are doing the same, and the people in the AFL are losing their jobs. How long will this last? Can America take these rich corporations anymore? Alternatively, will it be ruined at the feet of these captains of industry?