In what year did Andrew Carnegie reduce wages at his Homestead steel mill?

Andrew Carnegie reduced wages at his Homestead steel mill in 1892, a pivotal year that marked a significant event in labor history known as the Homestead Strike. The decision to cut wages was part of ongoing tensions between management and workers, where Carnegie and his plant manager, Henry Clay Frick, sought to increase profits by lowering labor costs. This wage reduction led to widespread discontent among the skilled workers, prompting them to strike in protest.

The strike intensified when Frick took drastic measures to break the union, including hiring private security to confront the striking workers. The events at Homestead became emblematic of the struggles between industrial workers and capital management in the late 19th century, highlighting issues related to workers' rights, the power of unions, and the socio-economic climate of the time. Thus, recognizing the importance of the year 1892 helps to understand the broader narrative of labor relations and the emergence of organized labor movements in the United States.