Are Violent Labor Disputes Returning to Pittsburgh Now that Inflation is Out of Control?

There were several violent labor uprisings in Pittsburgh's history. One of the most notable was the Homestead Strike in 1892, which was a violent labor dispute between the Carnegie Steel Company and the Amalgamated Association of Iron and Steel Workers.

The Homestead Strike began when the Carnegie Steel Company, owned by industrialist Andrew Carnegie, decided to reduce wages and break the union at its Homestead steel plant. The workers responded by going on strike and barricading themselves in the plant, which led to a violent confrontation between the strikers and private security guards hired by the company. The situation escalated when the company brought in Pinkerton detectives to break the strike, and a shootout ensued, resulting in several deaths and injuries.

The Homestead Strike had a significant impact on the labor movement in the United States and became a symbol of the struggle between labor and management. It also led to increased tensions between workers and employers in Pittsburgh and other industrial cities, as well as government intervention in labor disputes.

The Great Railroad Strike of 1877 was a nationwide labor protest that began in July 1877 and lasted for more than a month. The strike began in Martinsburg, West Virginia, and quickly spread to other cities, including Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The strike was sparked by wage cuts for railroad workers in response to a depression that had hit the United States in 1873. The strike was also fueled by a general discontent among workers over poor working conditions, long hours, and low wages.

In Pittsburgh, the strike was particularly intense. The city was a major hub for railroads, and the strike shut down much of the transportation system in the region. Violence erupted as strikers clashed with police and militia forces, leading to several deaths and injuries. The governor of Pennsylvania eventually called in the National Guard to restore order.

The strike ultimately failed to achieve its goals of higher wages and better working conditions, but it did bring attention to the plight of workers and helped to lay the groundwork for future labor movements in the United States.

The Pressed Steel Car Strike of 1909 was a significant labor dispute that took place in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Pressed Steel Car Company was one of the largest producers of railroad cars in the country, and its workers had long complained of low wages and poor working conditions.

On May 11, 1909, around 6,000 workers at Pressed Steel Car Company went on strike, demanding higher wages and better working conditions. The company refused to negotiate with the workers and instead brought in strikebreakers to continue production.

The strike quickly escalated, with strikers and their supporters engaging in violent clashes with company guards and police. The National Guard was eventually called in to restore order, and the strike continued for several months.

The strike was notable for its solidarity among workers of different races and ethnicities, with African American and Eastern European immigrant workers playing prominent roles in the strike. The strike also drew attention from labor leaders and activists across the country, including Eugene V. Debs, who visited Pittsburgh to show his support for the striking workers.

The Little Steel Strike of 1937 was a labor dispute that occurred in the steel industry in the United States. The strike involved workers at several small steel companies, including Republic Steel, Youngstown Sheet and Tube, and Inland Steel, which were collectively known as "Little Steel."

The strike began in May 1937, with workers demanding higher wages, better working conditions, and the right to form unions. The companies responded by hiring strikebreakers and using force to prevent workers from organizing.

Violent clashes between strikers and police occurred in several cities, including Chicago and Youngstown, resulting in the deaths of several workers and bystanders. The National Guard was called in to suppress the strike, and many strikers were arrested.

The strike was notable for the involvement of the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO), a newly-formed labor organization that sought to unionize industrial workers across the country. The CIO supported the striking workers and organized large-scale demonstrations and rallies in support of their cause.

Ultimately, the strike was not successful in achieving all of its goals, but it did lead to improvements in working conditions and wages for steelworkers, and paved the way for future labor organizing in the steel industry. The Little Steel Strike was also significant in the larger context of the labor movement in the United States, as it helped to establish the CIO as a major force in the fight for workers' rights.

The Industrial Workers of the World (IWW), also known as the "Wobblies," had a presence in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania during the early 20th century. The IWW was a radical labor union that sought to unite all workers into a single organization and advocated for workers to seize control of the means of production.

The IWW's activities in Pittsburgh included organizing strikes and protests, advocating for workers' rights and unionization, and publishing labor-focused newspapers and pamphlets. The union had a particularly strong presence in the city's steel and mining industries, which were major employers in the region at the time.

However, the IWW faced significant opposition from both employers and government authorities, who viewed the union as a threat to established power structures. Many IWW members were arrested and jailed for their activities, and the union's influence in Pittsburgh and elsewhere waned in the decades following World War I. Nonetheless, the IWW's legacy as a pioneer of the labor movement in the United States continues to be felt today.

Next week we will write on thoughts from labor leaders and management on the likelihood of the next surge of labor protests in Pittsburgh.