Lions Led By Donkeys Podcast Episode 278 - The Homestead Strike
Sep 24, 2023
The fierce clash at the Homestead Strike unfolds as factory workers repel an armed invasion by the infamous Pinkertons using makeshift defenses and innovative tactics. Discover how Andrew Carnegie and Henry Frick's ruthless strategies ignited the labor uprising. Tensions escalate into a dramatic showdown with gunfire and confusion as townspeople unite against the invaders. The aftermath reveals lasting impacts on labor rights and public perception, alongside reflections on modern parallels to this historic battle.
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Carnegie’s Philanthropy Masks Violence
- Andrew Carnegie built enormous wealth while publicly donating to reputation-launder his violent business practices.
- Joe argues Carnegie's philanthropy masked ruthless anti-union and exploitative actions during the Gilded Age.
Unions Seen As Threats By Management
- The Amalgamated Association (AA) won prior gains but faced management hostility over union power.
- Carnegie and Frick viewed unions as elitist and a threat to their efficiency and control.
Frick’s Brutal Lockout Tactics
- Frick demanded a 22% wage cut and a contract that would effectively destroy the AA at Homestead.
- He locked out workers and fortified the mill with fences, sniper towers, and boiling-water hoses to intimidate strikers.
