On this day in Labor History the year was 1892.
At 3 AM an alarm sounded in the town of Homestead, Pennsylvania.
The steelworkers who lived in the town were on strike.
Andrew Carnegie was the owner of the mill, located just outside of Pittsburgh.
The Carnegie Steel Co. was making massive profits—a record $4.5 million just before the 1892 confrontation.
Even so, Andrew Carnegie was determined to the lower costs of production by breaking the union.
As the union's three-year contract was coming to an end in 1892, the company demanded drastic wage cuts.
During the contract negotiations, management didn't make proposals to negotiate.
It instead issued ultimatums to the union.
The local newspaper pointed out that "it was not so much a question of disagreement as to wages, but a design upon labor organization."
The manager of the mill, Henry Clay Frick, tried to bring in the Pinkerton National Detective Agency, which was known for infiltrating unions and breaking strikes.
The workers were determined not to let the Pinkertons into the mill.
For fourteen hours they battled with the Pinkertons and attempted to skink their barge.
At the end of the battle, nine workers and three Pinkertons lay dead.
Four days later, 8,500 National Guard forces were sent at Frick’s request to take control of the town and steel mill.
After winning his victories, Frick announced, "Under no circumstances will we have any further dealing with the Amalgamated Association as an organization. This is final."
This incident is worth remembering because today, many people are intent on crushing any attempts by workers to organize!
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Labor History in 2:00 brought to you by the Illinois Labor History Society and The Rick Smith Show