THE GREAT STEEL STRIKE
AND ITS LESSONS
PENNSYLVANIA LAW AND ORDER
State Police driving peaceful citizens out of business places, Clairton, Pa.
Photo by International
THE
GREAT STEEL STRIKE
AND ITS LESSONS
BY
WILLIAM Z. FOSTER
INTRODUCTION BY
JOHN A. FITCH
NEW YORK
B. W. HUEBSCH, Inc.
MCMXX
COPYRIGHT, 1920, BY B. W. HUEBSCH, Inc.
PRINTED IN U. S. A.
INTRODUCTION
Half a million men are employed in the steel industry of the UnitedStates. At a period in which eight hours is rapidly coming to beaccepted as the standard length of the working day, the principal millsin this industry are operating on a 12-hour work schedule, and many oftheir workmen are employed seven days in every week. These half millionmen have, for the most part, no opportunity to discuss with theiremployers the conditions of their work. Not only are they denied theright of bargaining collectively over the terms of the labor contract,but if grievances arise in the course of their employment they have noright in any effective manner to take up the matter with their employerand secure an equitable adjustment.[1] The right even of petition hasbeen at times denied and, because of the organized strength of the steelcompanies and the disorganized weakness of the employees, could bedenied at any time.
The right of workers in this country to organize and to bargain[Pg vi]collectively is unquestioned. On every hand the workers are exercisingthis right in order to protect and advance their interests. In the steelmills not only is the right generally denied but the attempt to exerciseit is punished by expulsion from the industry. Through a system ofespionage that is thoroughgoing and effective the steel companies knowwhich of their employees are attending union meetings, which of them aretalking with organizers. It is their practice to discharge such men andthus they nip in the bud any ordinary movement toward organization.
Their power to prevent their employees from acting independently and intheir own interest, extends even to the communities in which they live.In towns where the mayor's chair is occupied by company officials ortheir relatives—as was the case during the 1919 strike in Bethlehem,Duquesne, Clairton and elsewhere—orders may be issued denying to theworkers the right to hold meetings for organizing purposes, or thepolice may be instructed to break them up. Elsewhere—as in Homestead,McKeesport, Monessen, Rankin a