Role as a Community Leader in Homestead 1892 - Essay Example

Role as a Community Leader in Homestead 1892 The ‘Homestead Strike’ which is basically an industrialized lockout has occurred in the year 1892. The reason for the strike is a disagreement that has risen between the Amalgamated Association of Iron and Steel Workers (the AA) and the Carnegie Steel Company. A large mass of workers has entered the iron and steel industry from Southern and Eastern Europe which mainly includes labors ready to offer their hardship at a minimum wage. These workers are unskilled and unable to correlate with the existing technologies and skills. Our community also includes a number of such workers who have been participating in this strike to demonstrate their demands. I would like to enlighten our community workers as their leader to select an appropriate path in this critical scenario which will be beneficial for them in the long run. At the outset, I would like to point out the significant reasons which have forced to transpire the present unfavorable scenario at Homestead Steel Works. One of the prime reasons for the grievance among our community workers along with the other workers is that the unskilled workers approximately are earning fifteen or sixteen cents per hour which is unbearable to support a family decently. But still in order to get this bare minimum wage, the unskilled labors have to work for long hours and at times additional working hours as compared to skilled workers. Moreover, the living conditions are hazardous with poor house, smoky air and fouled water. The unskilled labors are treated just as hunkies. This clearly revels the catastrophic working and living situations of the unskilled immigrant workers of Europe of whom a number of are residing in the community (Country Studies US, “The Struggles of Labor”; Sage, “The Progressive Era: The Great Age of Reform”). As the working and the living conditions of the unskilled workers are very poor and miserable, so I can state that the workers condition requires to be altered and the management has to provide serious consideration towards the unskilled workers. I also can bring to the notice of the unskilled workers that the primary reason behind the miserable working condition is the deficiency of their skills towards the new innovative technologies. Therefore, I can urge the workers to not to continue with their ongoing strike and to keep on working. As continuing with the strike will not be beneficial for both the management as well as the workers. Continuing with the strike will not be helpful for the workers as the management will probably not give in the workers demand which might lead to stagnation in the entire scenario. The situation can be resolved by undergoing a discussion with the management. The latter half of this 19th century can be considered as the stage of technological revolution or industrial revolution. This industrialization is mainly rooted in heavy industries like factories, railroads, and coal mining with the objective of creating more products in a cheaper way. This includes rise of industrialization and has resulted in the rush for immigration in the United States. This period has marked hasty economic growth and high prosperity within the US and has turned the nation into the world’s most leading economic, industrial and agricultural power. As a result, the real wages, Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and capital formation has increased and this has followed the augmentation of the average annual income of the workers as well. But the wages of the immigrants, a number of such workers who are from our community has remained barely low as they are untrained as well as unskilled to correspond with the advanced technology. At the same time, the wages of the skilled workers and engineers have increased at a constant rate along with other benefits. Thus, it can be stated that inspite of the rapid progress of the economy, the standard of living of the unskilled labors have remained unchanged. With regard to the present scenario in the industry, I can highlight to workers that the industry is undergoing a revolutionary change. Therefore, the technological aspect has become a major area of concern, which the unskilled workers require to address. The workers have to take initiative towards up-grading their skills in accordance with the existing industry requirement so that they can strongly put forward their stance in front of the management in the discussion. The up-gradation of skills will only be achieved by the workers if they keep on working as the continuing with the strike will not be a favorable decision (Boyd & Gove, “Nucor Corp. and the U.S. Steel Industry”). The Homestead Strike has been an industrialized lockout. It is a clash which occurred at the Homestead Steel Works among the Amalgamated Association of Iron and Steel Workers (the AA) and the Carnegie Steel Company. This issue has risen due to the inability of the unskilled workers to coincide with the advanced technology as well as the talents of the skilled workers. At the same time, the removal of the unskilled labors by the Amalgamated Association of Iron and Steel Workers union is also the other vital issue regarding the strike. As the wages of the unskilled workers are already low as compared to others, any further pay cut might be quite agonizing for our community workers. In addition, the strike also has threatened the sustainability as well as the corporate image of the Homestead Steel Works among the competitors in the market. As a consequence, the customer loyalty is negatively affected thereby declining the profitability and the productivity of the organization among others. The low wages of unskilled workers have led to the strike which should be stopped in order to improve the working condition and increase their wages. I can also point out in the scenario that the workers by continuing their work can have the opportunity to obtain training which cannot be gained by remaining in the strike. The workers in turn can gain major benefits if they acquire the necessary skills through training which can help them to eradicate the prime aspect of the strike i.e. their lack of skills (American Business, “Homestead Strike”). The second half of the 19th century has marked the age of industrial revolution, which has attracted a plethora of immigrants in the US. But most of them are unskilled labors and are unable to cope up with the modern technologies and equipments. Thus, the wages of these workers are very low as compared to the skilled ones. The Homestead Strike has risen due to the incapability of the unskilled workers to match with the other skilled ones. The interests of Andrew Carnegie and his workers are at odds in Homestead Steel Works. The objective of the company is to prepare more products at a cheap rate, with the use of advanced machines and techniques. As these unskilled workers are unable to cope up with these techniques and machines, the company has acted negatively on their part of decision. Thus, the company has offered lower wages to these unskilled workers as compared to others due to their inefficiency. However, this scenario should not be tolerated as the unskilled workers were not provided adequate training and learning opportunity to cope up with the changes. Thus, the scenario calls for taking a stern standpoint to resolve the scenario which can become mutually beneficial if the workers continue to work and take the advantage of acquiring training. As the interest of Andrew Carnegie is towards having advanced technologically skilled employees, thus I can say to the workers of the community that they require taking certain steps to acquire the requisite skills. One of such steps will be to remain in their job and make discussion with the management so they are provided opportunity to gain skills (Yorke, “Why Is There No Socialism in the United States?”). In this context, I can bring forth the occurrence of the Pullman Strike which is just as Homestead Strike, also a revolt regarding the rights of the labors. Though the Pullman Strike is a brutal nationwide conflict, nevertheless it is a significant incident for the people of the American business industry. The Pullman Strike has led to the closing of the manufacturing in the Pullman factories and resulted in a lockout situation. This act of labor strike in the effort of retaining peace has killed many people. But the objective of the Pullman Strike is quite successful as it forced the organizational management to employ hundreds of unskilled workers with low wages. In this case, the federal government also has become involved in order to avoid the loss of life or belongings as American Railway Union and the General Managers Association are not willing to resolve the strike in a peaceful manner. Thus, it is the responsibility of the government to remain impartial while considering the revolt (Vosswinkel, “Government Response to the Pullman Strike”). The government has been forced to take progressive movements in this type of revolts which marked massive economic and social changes. As a result, the entire scenario of the nation has changed and reformed (Vosswinkel, “Government Response to the Pullman Strike”). Conclusively, it can be stated that the success of Pullman Strike has reformed the structure of the country as well as provided vast employment opportunities to the unskilled workers and has reduced the issue of discrimination. However, I can state that the workers undergoing the strike at Homestead Steel Works should continue with their work instead of strike as their stance and the reason for the strike can only be resolved by availing training programs which can be obtained by staying in the organization and having discussion with the management. Works Cited American Business. “Homestead Strike”. December 22, 2011. Event, 2011. Boyd, Brian K & Gove, S. “Nucor Corp. and the U.S. Steel Industry”. December 22, 2011. Introduction, 2000.  Country Studies US. “The Struggles of Labor”. December 22, 2011. United States History, 2011 Sage, Henry J. “The Progressive Era: The Great Age of Reform”. December 22, 2011. Overview, 2010. Vosswinkel, Laura. “Government Response to the Pullman Strike”. December 22, 2011. History, 2001. Yorke, Andy. “Why Is There No Socialism in the United States?”. December 22, 2011. Content, 2008. Read More