1890s

• Western Federation of Miners (WFM)

  • Created in 1893
  • Competed with AFL
• The Homestead Strike (1892)

  • Industrial lockout
  • Workers strikes against the Homestead Steel Works in retaliation to 22% wage decrease
  • Riot put down by Pinkerton Police, who killed 2 and wounded 11
  • Occupied plant for 95 das
  • Virtually bankrupted the Amalgamated Association of Iron and Steel Workers
• Aftermath of the Homestead Strike

  • A boycott for Carnegie products was called for but failed
  • Nearly 1,600 men were receiving $10,000 a week
  • 101 to 91 voted for workers to go back to work
• The Pullman Strike (1894)

  • Employers refused to engage in collective bargaining
  • 125,000 workers on 29 railroads quit work
  • Strike broken by US Marshals and around 2,000 troops
  • 13 strikers killed and 57 wounded