During the Homestead strike, who were the guards hired to protect?

The guards hired during the Homestead strike were primarily tasked with protecting nonunion laborers. This strike occurred in 1892 at the Carnegie Steel Company facility in Homestead, Pennsylvania. The conflict arose as management attempted to break the union by hiring replacement workers, referred to as nonunion laborers, to keep the steel mill operational while the strikers were on the picket lines.

Management employed these guards, who were often associated with the Pinkerton National Detective Agency, to ensure the safety and security of the nonunion workers as they crossed picket lines and commenced work. The presence of armed guards was meant to intimidate the striking workers and maintain operations despite the protests. Thus, the guards’ role was fundamentally aligned with the interests of the nonunion laborers, supporting management's efforts to undermine the union's position during the strike.