The Steel strike of 1959
The steel strike started because of a simple request for higher wages due to steel companies recording higher profits. It then turned into the largest strike in U.S history with a total of 500,000 people. This happend on July 15, 1959 and shut down almost every steel mill in the country. David Mcdonald believed that the union would break before his company would but he was proved wrong when the union held. The pressure put on Mcdonald to end the strike was amplified because of national security matters seeing as there was no steel being produced after almost four months. All in all the union and the workers it represented won. In the end the steelworkers returned to work with a revised contract, increased wages, increased pensions, improved health benefits, and the end of Mcdonalds presidancy.
Key players in the strike
David J. Mcdonalds
Some of the key people in the Steel Strike of 1959 were David J. Mcdonalds ( the
president of the U.S.W.A at the time), Arthur J. Goldberg ( A man on the board of the steel industry ), President Eisenhower, and Vice President Nixon. Each man played a big role in how this strike was handled. Mcdonalds fear of his organization breaking down and Goldberg's denial to give workers higher wages both contributed to the strike happening. President Eisenhower helped settle the strike by asking both sides to extend their contracts for a year, which they did and lastly Nixon settled the strike once and for all by
giving the workers what they wanted.
president of the U.S.W.A at the time), Arthur J. Goldberg ( A man on the board of the steel industry ), President Eisenhower, and Vice President Nixon. Each man played a big role in how this strike was handled. Mcdonalds fear of his organization breaking down and Goldberg's denial to give workers higher wages both contributed to the strike happening. President Eisenhower helped settle the strike by asking both sides to extend their contracts for a year, which they did and lastly Nixon settled the strike once and for all by
giving the workers what they wanted.