Steel

The Homestead strike was a major turning point for the union. Carnegie placed strong anti-unionist Henry Clay Frick in charge of his company's operations in 1881. With the union's contract due to expire on June 30, 1892, Frick demanded a 22 percent wage decrease, then unilaterally announced that if an agreement was not reached he would no longer recognize the union.
Frick locked the workers out on June 29. The striking workers ringed the plant and patrolled the Monongahela River (which ran alongside the mill) to prevent anyone from entering Local sheriff's deputies failed to retake the plant on July 5.
Frick then sent 300 Pinkerton National Detective Agency guards to seize the plant and re-open it on the night of July 5. The Pinkerton men were ordered to approach the plant from the river. But the strikers learned of the Pinkertons' arrival The Pinkertons attempted to land about 4 a.m., and the crowd surged onto the Homestead plant groundsA shot was fired, then both sides opened fire. Two workers and two Pinkertons died and dozens were wounded. The Pinkerton tug departed with the wounded agents, leaving the remaining agents stranded.
The strikers continued to sporadically fire on the stranded barges, and an attempt was made to sink the barges with a cannon. When the Pinkertons tried to disembark again at 8:00 a.m., a firefight broke out and four more strikers were killed. The strikers attempted to burn the barges several times during the day, but failed. At 5:00 p.m., the Pinkertons surrendered and were handed over to the sheriff