Road to Rust: The Disintegration of the Steel Industry in Western Pennsylvania and Eastern Ohio

by Dale Richard Perelman

The author of Steel tells the story of strikes and violent unrest amid the mines and mills of twentieth-century Pennsylvania and Ohio—includes photos.   As the twentieth century dawned on western Pennsylvania and eastern Ohio, the region’s steel industry faced a struggle for unionism. The industry was plagued by disasters that killed and maimed countless workers, many of them impoverished immigrants from Ireland, Hungary, and other nations—in 1906 alone, more than four hundred workers died in steel plant accidents.   In response, unionists like Philip Murray, John L. Lewis, Samuel Gompers, and Gus Hall began to battle for fair wages, hours, and working conditions. Managers like Judge Elbert Gary and Tom Girdler opposed their every move. Tensions from issues of immigration, class, skill, and race erupted throughout the industry.   The tribulations led to widespread steel strikes directed by the Amalgamated Association of Iron and Steel Workers and the Steel Workers Organizing Committee, and a war that killed scores and injured thousands. In this book, industrial relations expert Dale Richard Perelman charts the struggle and decline of the nation’s most prominent regional steel industry.

259 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 26, 2018

Reviews

[Babs M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty much just have to read the last chapter or two to see exactly why our steel industry went under. All having to do with union demands, priced right out of the market and could no longer compete with Japan. Sad but I guess all things must pass. I was from a steel town in Ohio (Republic) where probably a third of our population worked in steel and related factories. I worked for my dad in his dental office and would hear the patients say they were on their 13 week vacation. My dad was a bit envious because if he didn't work he didn't make money but Republic had generous vacation, health insurance, retirement pensions, pay increases, etc.

[Paul Lunger · Rating 5 out of 5]

With "Road to Rust: The Disintegration of the Steel Industry in Western Pennsylvania and Eastern Ohio", Dale Richard Perelman goes through the process of describing the perils in the steel industry which was a vital part of the economy of Western Pennsylvania as well as Eastern Ohio in the early part of the 20th century. The book begins with the setup of exactly what was happening in the industry at that time as well as explaining just where American innovation was w/ regards to it mentioning some of the biggest names in finance at the time (names which are legendary in both US & local history). From there, we the reader are exposed to the struggles of the steel worker & the strikes which at times turned very violent & one of which caused a town in Mahoning County, Ohio to be forced to rename itself. Across not quite 200 pages, we the reader see the evolution of the industry & also realize that the industry itself especially post-WWII became responsible for it's own downfall by not putting out the investments to upgrade & keep up with the times. As a native of Eastern Ohio, I as a reader took a great interest in this book simply because the steel story is a part of the story of my home area. The book revealed to me a lot of things that at times aren't revealed in the history books & is at times lost to quiet stories or newspaper archives. A very well done book which is a must read for anyone looking for an overview of the history of this area & the steel industry as well.