Shadow Empire

Chapter 843 Eve
Over the weekend, Debbie (the textile workers' office manager for the Likasle branch of the Labor Federation) called Lance and wanted to talk to him.

Lance asked her to come directly to his office, saying that the mafia was not a legitimate business and there was no such thing as not working on weekends.

Debbie came in the morning. Most companies have very important things to do in the morning, and she was worried that Lance would have other things to do in the afternoon.

This was not her first time in Lance's office, and Lance greeted her at the office door.

"Please take a seat."

Lance didn't ask her to sit on a chair, as that would make the conversation seem too stiff and formal, but instead chose to sit on the sofa, which was less formal.

The girl brought over coffee and a snack, and Debbie took a sip of her coffee and praised it with a relaxed brow.

The coffee is good, and the price is high enough.

"If you like, I'll ask them to pack some for you to take back." This is not an inquiry, but an affirmative sentence that has been determined.

“I’m not a big fan of coffee, but they said these are hand-selected coffee beans, and everyone who has tasted it says it’s good.”

Debbie didn't refuse and said thank you.

"Lance, the Labor Federation has been promoting strikes, marches and protests during this period. Their real target is you." She took a deep breath, held it in her chest, and stated the purpose of her visit.

Lance nodded slightly. "I heard some things." He looked at Debbie with a hint of inquiry and curiosity. "I remember you were also from the Labor Federation."

Debbie did not deny it. After all, this is the fact and no one can change it. "I have lived in Jingang City for many years and have contributed a lot to the city's textile industry. I don't want it to become a sacrifice for some people to play politics."

"We should be more pure, instead of talking about politics like we are now."

Lance didn't believe what she said. The ambitions and desires of these people in the Labor Federation had begun to run wild under their uncontrollable power. Lance believed that if possible, Debbie would join in more actively.

Seeing that Lance didn't say anything, Debbie could only smile bitterly and said, "Actually, I...they don't know anything about Golden Harbor City, or about you, Lance."

"I have been in Jingang City for so many years, I am like a Jingang person, so I know very well what kind of person you are."

"I don't want any trouble!"

Lance nodded slightly, "Someone from my factory is going to join the strike, too?"

Debbie was embarrassed. "Well, I've told them that this has nothing to do with us, but you know some people's minds are not entirely on production."

This is also the reason why the Labor Federation wants to establish a Workers' Party, because there are too few "positions" in the Labor Federation.

For example, each industry office of the Likalai State Branch has only one supervisor and two or three staff members. There are too many people who want to become upper-middle level and take advantage of the current good situation to rise to the top.

The Labor Union cannot provide more management positions to enable them to become the upper class, so they think about promoting the establishment of a party, which can provide them with more positions and also give them the opportunity to gain political power.

According to Debbie, there are also some famous workers in this part of the textile industry in Likalai State -

In order to increase their influence, the labor federation has its own newspapers and magazines. Each issue of the magazine will introduce some outstanding regional "star workers" and their outstanding work abilities and deeds.

Some people can work peacefully after being introduced, but some people can't work peacefully after being introduced.

Debbie did not let her workers participate in any strike activities because she knew very well that this would be tantamount to direct confrontation with the interest groups in Jingang City.

Just look at what happened to those who went against Lance over the past few years.

Either they were imprisoned and disappeared from people's sight, or they disappeared inexplicably and were never found again.

No one can stand against Lance and persist until now. Those big shots can't do it, so Debbie herself can't do it even more.

She doesn't want to die!

But her subordinates wanted to use this strike to gain attention again, and some even began to covet her position.

The more restrained and low-key she acted, the crazier those people became. In addition, the textile industry itself was a disaster area for trade unions, and some capitalists were also contacting Lans about supporting issues, so they took the opportunity to launch an attack.

After listening to her rather straightforward inner thoughts, Lance also expressed some thoughts about the Labor Federation, and even that the Labor Federation might deliberately provoke Lance.

In response to this, Lansdu gave a positive response, thanking her for revealing the news.

"Don't worry, Ms. Debbie, I already know what you mean."

"I can guarantee that no matter how this strike develops or how it ends, we will always be friends."

"It was in the past, it is now, and it will be in the future!"

Seeing Ms. Debbie sigh with relief, Lance walked to the door and asked, "Bring two pounds of coffee beans for us to drink, package them."

Then he went back to the table, took out an exquisite envelope, walked back to the sofa, and handed it over, "A shopping discount coupon. You should be able to use it."

Originally, Ms. Debbie thought it was "cash" and wanted to refuse it, but when she heard it was a discount voucher, she changed her mind and said "thank you".

Soon the coffee beans were delivered, and a bag was thoughtfully prepared. Lance put everything in it and handed it over.

He knew that the conversation was over, Ms. Debbie had explained her purpose, and Lance had felt her sincerity, and that was enough.

"I'll take you there." Lance walked Ms. Debbie to the door without giving her a chance to refuse. She had driven here by herself, otherwise Lance would have planned to have someone drive her back.

After saying goodbye several times at the door, Ms. Debbie left and returned to her car.

After saying these things, she breathed a sigh of relief, and a look of satisfaction appeared on her face.

Those people were always eyeing her supervisor position in a weird way, but now they have no future.

From what she knew about Lance, it was unlikely that these people would have a good ending.

Her heart was beating very fast when she was in the office before. She knew with a high probability what would happen to these people. These people died because of her "informing", which made her feel some burden and condemnation on her conscience.

But now she feels much better and can enjoy a wonderful life as long as she puts aside her personal morals.

When she returned to her detached house and took out the bag of coffee beans, she remembered that Lance had given her a discount coupon.

Her job pays well. There are always factories that need to hire skilled female workers. Moreover, the federal economy is now on the rise, and more and more new textile factories are being built.

If these factories want skilled workers, they have to look to her.

And looking for her will definitely cost money.

She was reluctant to accept Lance's cash, mainly because she was a little scared. She didn't want to have too much contact with Lance, but she also didn't want to act too unfamiliar. She wanted to maintain a distance that was neither too far nor too close.

When she took out the discount coupon, she couldn't help but reveal an expression of amazement.

Lawrence Supermarket’s 100-for-1,000 discount coupons, all product types!
On the other hand, Lance called Reid (the old tailor's son-in-law and current general manager of Lance Garment Factory) to inquire about matters related to the garment factory.

The call was connected quickly. The outbreak of the war brought many people's livelihood production in the affected countries to a standstill. For example, in Slade, less than 30% of the companies were still producing daily necessities.

Other companies are producing military supplies or goods that have positive uses in the war.

Coupled with the instability in all walks of life, domestic prices have skyrocketed. On the contrary, the Federation has not been affected by the war and prices have remained stable.

So rather than manufacturing their own products or purchasing expensive domestically produced goods, they buy directly from the feds.

Lans' factory also received a lot of orders, with the delivery schedule scheduled for three months later.

The factory is operating at full capacity every day. Although the weather is not warm yet, all the workers in the factory are wearing short sleeves.

"boss?"

Reid couldn't help but smile when he heard Lance's voice. The better the company's business performance, the more commission he would get. More importantly, this was something that gave him a sense of accomplishment!
The factory has expanded several times and now has more than a thousand workers. Reid also plans to continue expanding to meet more order demands.

After the two chatted casually for a while, Lance turned his attention to the workers. "I heard from Debbie that some workers in our factory are also going to join the strike?"

Reid was stunned for a moment. "I saw some of them mention these things, but it seems that no one responded. I have to ask."

He was in a good mood, but at this moment, it was gone. He knew very well what the strike would bring, because he was also a down-to-earth person running a factory. Once production was affected, orders would soon be in trouble.

Failure to deliver goods in a timely manner will lead to large claims and lawsuits, and all subsequent order scheduling may be affected.

This means that if production cannot be resumed in a short period of time, he will have to consider completely abandoning two or three orders in order to meet subsequent order production in advance.

Although it’s just the beginning of the year, the factory will definitely incur losses this year!

Reid came out of the office and walked towards the factory. It was almost noon, but it was not time for a break yet. However, he saw some workers who were not at their work stations but were chatting outside the factory.

He knew all these workers. They were the first batch of skilled workers transferred from the Labor Union.

Those who work in this industry know very well that these "skilled workers" are the core of the textile industry. Their job is to make samples and carry out basic production for the products produced in the entire workshop.

Then other workers produce and assemble according to the parts they produced.

Although they don't carry out production work all the time, it's not good for them to go out so openly.

The workers also saw Reid, but they did not greet him. They just watched him from a distance, lacking respect for their boss. This made him realize that the situation Lance described did exist.

When he got closer, a senior worker in charge of cutting came over and said, "Manager..."

Reid stood in front of them, holding his hands on his waist. "What are you talking about here?"

"Have you completed this morning's production task?"

These skilled workers looked at each other, but no one said a word.

Only the tailor said with a small smile on his face, "Manager Reid, we have something we want to talk to you about. How about we go to your office?"

Ryder shook his head. "Right here."

The worker shrugged. "Okay."

"We've recently decided that what we get isn't equal to what we give, Mr. Ryder."

Reid got even angrier when he heard this, "I only gave you a raise after the Chinese New Year!"

The worker smiled and said, “It’s already April.”

"so?"

The worker showed a very angry expression, "So we need a salary increase, and our income is lower than the industry average, Manager Reid, this is unreasonable!"

He then talked about a report on "Labor Occupational Levels and Industry Wages" released this year by the Federation of Labor, which mentioned that in the textile industry, senior workers of their level have much higher incomes than they do now.

These people basically make 60 or 70 yuan a month now, but their current demand is around 80 yuan.

The average wage level in this industry that they announced is actually not standard. Can the income and consumption in advanced and backward regions be the same?

Can workers in the West earn exactly the same as workers in the South or the strong industrial regions in the central part of the Union?
But the workers don’t think so. They believe that they should receive equal pay for equal work.

But this is obviously impossible, so this is often the time when trade unions or labor federations appear.

They will talk to the factory, and then the factory will slightly increase wages as a price to appease the workers. The union will once again expand its influence and even make a profit from it.

This time, they have just had their wages raised and they are asking for another wage increase. They are just taking advantage of this opportunity to cause trouble.

Ryder looked at them, very unhappy, "I thought we were friends."

He used to be of the same class as these people. He was also a worker who produced handmade clothes. It was only after he met Lance that his identity changed.

He gives these workers a salary increase every year. Although it is not much, it is still among the highest in Jingang City.

But seeing them like this now made Reid feel heartbroken.

One of the workers in charge of finalizing the pattern shook his head and said, "You are a capitalist, and we are workers. We can't be friends!"

The worker he was talking to said in a slightly threatening tone, "If you can't agree to this request, then we will have to use some of our own means."

He pursed his lips and smiled, "Strike."

Reid took a few steps back and raised his middle finger. "Send Q, go on strike if you want!"

"Remember, this is fucking Jingang City!"

As he said this, he took two steps back, turned back to the office, and told Lance what had happened there.

"These people are just trying to piss me off. The salary they're asking for is totally unreasonable, and I only gave them a $1.50 raise!"

Reid felt that he had been let down, and his tone was full of resentment.

Lance smiled and comforted him, "Don't be so angry, write down their names, they will regret it."

"You need to do a good job of working with other workers. We also have some people in the factory. Talk to them and ask them not to get involved with those troublemakers."

"But there's no need to make it difficult. If they decide to follow these people to the end, then let them do it."

"Count the number of labor shortages and I'll arrange some for you."

Ryder gave a "hmm" and said, "I'll figure it out."

There are quite a few Imperial people in the factory. Although the Labor Union required a high proportion of skilled workers and federal workers at the beginning, with repeated expansions, the number of Imperial immigrants in the factory has caught up.

These people have worked here for several years, and some of them have good abilities and have actually reached the standards of skilled workers.

If it was just the loss of these skilled workers, Reid wouldn't be too nervous. If things really couldn't take over, he could take over, and his father-in-law also had tailors with better skills.

The most important thing is the ordinary workers, who represent the real production capacity of a factory.

On Monday, the Labor Federation called Lance again and asked him if he had thought it through and whether he was determined to oppose the Labor Federation to the end.

Lance gave them a clear answer that Wanli Labor Agency would not sign contracts with workers with union backgrounds for the time being, and that this did not violate any federal law.

There is no law requiring workers to join a union, nor is there a law requiring that only union workers can work.

The last communication between the two parties ended in failure. From their words, they seemed to want to have a confrontation with Lance, which made Lance feel a little amused.

Mayor Williams also called and said that the Labor Federation had contacted him, hoping that he could come forward to point out the farce of the labor agency, but he refused.

This is a personal behavior of the market and enterprises and has nothing to do with the government.

This also means that a general strike will come soon.

In the following days, more reporters came to Jingang City. They had heard the news a long time ago. Even Senator Cleveland took the initiative to call and inquire about this matter.

The location of Jingang City is very special, and a special incident is about to break out, which he needs to figure out.

"I heard they're going to have a big strike in Jingang City?"

The senator asked directly, and Lance answered directly, "Well, it's the same thing as last time. They think I'm destroying the foundation of the union and the AFL, so they asked me to give up doing so."

The senator knew about this, and he encouraged Lance to fight the AFL-CIO and the trade unions to the end.

"How about it, are you confident that you can solve this problem?"

"I heard there are a lot of reporters there, so you may not be able to use the people under you."

Lance laughed and replied, "Senator, don't worry, the strike will be over in two days at most!"

Senator Cleveland's tone also became relaxed. "Then I'll be waiting for your good news!"

(End of this chapter)