By: Annie Wang
On July 1892 in Homestead, Pennsylvania, over three hundred workers went on strike against the Carnegie Steel Company. The workers wanted less hours and better working conditions. At the time, Carnegie had been out of town, so Henry Frick had been in charge. He would not let in to the labor union, so he wrote a contract with union that he knew they would not accept. When Frick shut down the mill, the steelworkers went on strike. Frick built a 12-foot wooden fence around the mill. Three hundred agents from the Pinkerton National Detective Agency were sent by boat to keep the strikers away and to secure the mill.
This did not keep the workers away. Thousands of armed steelworkers marched towards Carnegie’s mill. Despite the tall fence in the way, they quickly tore it down to the ground. As the steelworkers quickly approached the mill, shots rang out. Agents and the steelworkers shot at each other. Witness Margaret Sally says, “It sounded violent. When I peeked out my window, I saw many steelworkers headed for the mill. All I could do was stay inside and hope for the best.”
The fight lasted for many hours, and although the Pinkerton agents rose up white flags, the workers shot them down. Seven steelworkers and three Pinkerton agents died that day. Nonetheless, Frick started hiring immigrants to replace the strikers. The immigrants were willing to work for very low wages. Without jobs, the strikers’ plan went into the downturn. Instead of accomplishing their task, it weakened the power of labor unions.
This did not keep the workers away. Thousands of armed steelworkers marched towards Carnegie’s mill. Despite the tall fence in the way, they quickly tore it down to the ground. As the steelworkers quickly approached the mill, shots rang out. Agents and the steelworkers shot at each other. Witness Margaret Sally says, “It sounded violent. When I peeked out my window, I saw many steelworkers headed for the mill. All I could do was stay inside and hope for the best.”
The fight lasted for many hours, and although the Pinkerton agents rose up white flags, the workers shot them down. Seven steelworkers and three Pinkerton agents died that day. Nonetheless, Frick started hiring immigrants to replace the strikers. The immigrants were willing to work for very low wages. Without jobs, the strikers’ plan went into the downturn. Instead of accomplishing their task, it weakened the power of labor unions.
Carnegie Steel Company
Turns the Strike Back Around