- Homestead Labor Riot 1892
Homestead is a small town eight miles outside of Pittsburgh Pennsylvania, located on thebank of the Monongahela River.
In 1881, Andrew Carnegie built his principal steel mill in the town of Homestead. The Carnegie Steel Mill had employed over4,000 out of the town’s 12,000 residents.
Every individual in the town was affected by the mill in some way.
Andrew Carnegie, a Scottish born businessman, built his fortune from nothing. At its peak, Carnegie’s enterprise was worth $14 billion and controlled two-thirds of the steel production across the nation.
Henry Clay Frick, Carnegie’s appointed chairman, had no compassion for his workers. He was a ruthless man who despised worker’s unions and anything associated with them.
Andrew Carnegie left for vacation in 1892, trusting Henry Frick with full authority of the Homestead mill and the employees there. Upon his departure, Carnegie could never have anticipated the upcoming events that would take place in Homestead.
The price of steel in the early 1890s was falling. Frick, worried about the price cuts, decided to use the expiring contract to cut wages and take power away from the employees.
The disputes between the Union and Carnegie’s company led up to what came to be known as the Homestead Strike of 1892.
As of June 29, 1892, negotiations were making no progress. The lack of improvementsin the strike and the declining state of the steel market led Frick to lock out the mill’s 4,000 workers.
This way Frick could bring in strike breakers to keep production moving.
Frick built a twelve-foot fence around the entire perimeter.
On July 6, 1892, the first gunshots were exchanged between the Pinkerton Detectives and the people of Homestead.
The following fourteen hours of battle were brutal.
The battle for Homestead, as it is now known, went down in the history books as one of the most violent strikes in U.S. history. (Mercer College, Dr. Barbara Pittman)
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DCDC Chairman Marilyn Levin
Labor Day is more than a “day off.” Today is our National observance of the men and women who labored their lives to build this great country.
The Dauphin County Democratic Committee recognizes the importance of the Labor Movement to American History and to our future.
As you read the excerpt in the beginning of this message, you can fully understand that hardworking men and women formed Labor Unions to protect their rights against unfair labor practices.
They came from an idea of a “few” working together to form a union of “many” and together they are one. They accomplished this by utilizing the power of one collective voice.
Currently the Public Employee Unions in Wisconsin, Ohio, and California are under siege.
119 years after the bloody Homestead Strike, the extreme Republican Governors of Wisconsin and Ohio opted to degrade the men and women who keep their states running.
Republicans are trying to recreate a tyrannical history but the people are fighting back.
Pennsylvania Democrats know our state runs best when “The American Federation of State,County & Municipal Employee” (AFSCME) workers are respected.
Today, in addition to honoring all workers who have contributed to the strength, prosperity and well being of our country, we would like to pay special homage to the plumbers, pipe fitters, iron and electrical workers, the building trades, service employees union, painters, dry-wallworkers, and teamsters.
Did you know Pennsylvania Teamsters represent most of the workers in the County Courthouse?
I mention the courthouse and history of the labor movement to focus your attention on the importance of the upcoming November election.
This is the first time the Democratic Party has assembled a full slate of candidates to challenge the republicans; and we have our sights set on the Courthouse.
Skeptics say it’s impossible to take the Courthouse from Republican control. The naysayers claim Democrats are lazy voters, who don’t think these elections are important.
We have been branded as apathetic voters who don’t believe our votes count.
Statistics show, Republicans, historically, come out to vote in greater numbers than we do.
It is time for Dauphin County Democrats to claim the power of our vote.
The Democratic Party has 7100 more registered voters than republicans, with an additional 10,000 Independents who lean Democratic.
We have control within our reach.
Pundits say our fight is of monumental proportions. We need your help to prove them wrong.
The Dauphin County Democratic Committee’s goal is to organize and implement the best “Get Out The Vote” Central Pennsylvania has ever experienced and we need your help.
We understand the state of the economy and realize excessively large donations may not be within your budget, however many of us have the ability to donate in smaller increments of $5 to $20
If you can contribute: Please send your check or money order to:
DAUPHIN COUNTY DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE
c/o Get Out the Vote
P.O. Box 60789
Harrisburg, PA 17106
Monetary donations are always welcome, but we need more than money.
Never underestimate the power of volunteerism; it is the greatest contribution a registered voter can give, outside of your actual vote.
From calling local democrats to remind them of the election, inform them of our candidates, or where their polling place is to manning the polls on Election Day, encouraging people to vote Democratic, your role as a volunteer is vital to the success of getting our Democratic candidates elected.
If you’d like to join out DCDC Street Team please contact Autumn Cooper at volunteers@dauphindems.com , leave your name, number and a member of our team will contact you.
The Dauphin County Democratic Committee is dedicated to running a team effort.
To increase our chances we ask that you vote the Straight Democratic ticket.
One button and you will have voted for,
George HARTWICK, Wendy JACKSON(Commissioner) Eboni BRYANT (Register of Deeds) Rogette HARRIS(Register of Wills) Evelyn Zigerelli-HENDERSON (Clerk of Courts) John COLEMAN (Controller) Phil ZULLI (District Attorney) Jeff GOBLE(Sheriff), David WECHT (Superior Court) and Kathryn BOOCKVAR(Commonwealth Judge)
10 of the best candidates ever assembled for public office.
Together we will make history. We are a “few” working together to form a union of “many.”We can only accomplish our goal by utilizing the power of one collective voice.
Democratically yours,
Marilyn Levin
Chairman, DCDC
