Union essay

Vaudrey Carrillo

Fabric of Unionism

The struggle for equality and fair treatment in the workplace has been a long fight over the years. These people had the courage and bravery to stand up for themselves in the face of manufacturing giants. The Carnegie Steel Homestead Strike is a great example of this courage and sacrifice.The steelworkers of Homestead had the courage to go into a fight that they would most likely lose. They were not only up against the Pinkerton Officers but the of the whole company. By going through with this battle,  they would make a statement that would not be forgotten or ignored.

In my piece I used the train to represent the power and enormity of the Carnegie Steel Company that the steelworkers were up against. It also stands for all the powerful companies that so many laborers stood up to. I also included a drawing of a blindfolded Andrew Carnegie to show how he refused to acknowledge the situation. He often spoke of how he supported unions and labor rights yet he turned away from the Homestead Strike which resulted in a brutal calamity. Carnegie's lack of action showed his hypocrisy and ended with the loss of lives.

Overall, my piece portrays the hardship and courage of the laborers and the corruption and callousness of manufacturers who were out to make a profit. The labor movement was about overcoming fear and standing up for the rights of workers, even if the possibilities of immediate success were very slim.