Chapter 549: Strike

"Chen Yang, hurry over to Ordinary People's Meat Industry Co., Ltd." Chen Yang was at home playing with his son Chen Shengli when Lin Jianguo suddenly called. From the tone of the caller, something big must have happened.

Chen Yang handed the child to Hu Qingwan, then drove to Ordinary People's Meat Industry Co., Ltd. While on the way, he called Ouyang Sheng, who was still on duty, and learned that the workers had gone on strike.

The reason for the strike is only one: the Welfare Housing quota!

Chen Yang had promised the employees of the meat company that veteran employees with ten years of service could get a 50% housing purchase quota, and new employees with five years of service could also get a 50% housing purchase quota.

Now that the company has changed hands, many worry the original promise cannot be fulfilled, demanding that the newly appointed chairman Zhou Wenbin give an explanation.

Unexpectedly, Zhou Wenbin directly refused to honor the promise.

Angered, the workers all went on strike.

Zhou Wenbin, having no choice, sought help from Lin Jianguo. The latter also had no option but to call Chen Yang over.

To be honest, Chen Yang didn't want to get involved at first. But after careful consideration, he felt it was improper, because the half-price housing benefit was a promise he made to all employees of his own companies.

If we sell Ordinary People's Meat Industry Co., Ltd and ignore it, it will indirectly affect the morale of employees at other companies.

Especially the Ordinary People's Feed Factory, which has moved to opposite the meat company.

To stabilize morale, Chen Yang must go and give an explanation to the employees of Ordinary People's Meat Industry Co., Ltd.

When he arrived at the company, he happened to see Lin Jianguo holding a megaphone communicating with the striking workers. Beside him stood He Guangming, the district director of Southern District, the newly appointed chairman of Ordinary People's Meat Industry Co., Ltd Zhou Wenbin, and the civil police from over ten district police stations responsible for maintaining order.

Seeing Chen Yang arrive, Lin Jianguo breathed a sigh of relief. He immediately put down the megaphone and then handed it to Chen Yang.

"Chen Yang, he who ties the bell must untie it. This matter was caused by you, so you must resolve it."

Although Chen Yang rarely participates in management, everyone at the company knows him. As he walked up to the crowd with the megaphone, before he even spoke, everyone became excited.

"Boss, you promised us the half-price housing quota—you must honor it!"

"Boss, I'm only half a year away from qualifying to buy a house—if you go back on your word, that's totally unfair to me!"

"Boss, we came to the company solely for the housing benefit. Now the newly appointed chairman has turned his back and refuses to acknowledge us—aren't we working for nothing?"

"Boss, are you still hiring at your other companies? We're willing to keep working for you!"

……

Chen Yang raised his hand to signal everyone to quiet down, then spoke through the megaphone: "Don't panic, everyone—return to work first. I'll first meet with the municipal committee leaders and the company's senior management to discuss and try to get a satisfactory outcome for all."

As soon as he finished speaking, someone in the crowd immediately asked: "Boss, you won't lie to us, will you?"

Chen Yang laughed: "I could fool you for a day, but not for a lifetime. Get back to work! If the company's production slows, it's your own income that suffers."

Upon hearing this, everyone hurried to their feet and returned to their respective production workshops.

After the crowd had dispersed, Lin Jianguo called everyone to the company's meeting room.

"Chen Yang, do you have any solutions?" Lin Jianguo first looked at Chen Yang, after all, this matter ultimately arose because of him.

Chen Yang thought for a moment, then told Lin Jianguo: "Mayor, I have two solutions. First, we can allocate another building from the completed projects at Happy Farmland. This would basically meet the housing purchase needs of all current employees of the company."

"However, there are three problems. First, even if we issue the half-price housing benefit, many of these employees still lack the funds to buy a house, so we need to get the banks to provide loan support."

"Second, regarding the developer, can the district offer some land compensation?"

"Third, after this compensation, will the company continue to retain this benefit? If not, how can we motivate new employees' work enthusiasm?"

Lin Jianguo did not make an immediate decision, but said to Chen Yang: "Please explain the second solution."

Chen Yang nodded and said: "The second solution is also simple. Once the new factory is built, we will demolish the old factory and construct an employee resettlement area on the same site. Besides allocating housing to current employees, any surplus will be sold externally. If carried out properly, this plan might even generate some extra income for the company."

Upon hearing this, Lin Jianguo turned his gaze to the newly appointed chairman of Ordinary People's Meat Industry Co., Ltd, Zhou Wenbin: "Comrade Zhou Wenbin, what do you think of Chen Yang's suggestion?"

Zhou Wenbin is fifty-five years old this year; he originally worked at the Qingshui City Development and Reform Commission, and was recommended by Old Master Lin to take over Chen Yang's position at Ordinary People's Meat Industry Co., Ltd.

He said to Lin Jianguo: "Mayor, the company's current main task is to expand the market and improve performance; there are no extra funds to build welfare housing for employees. I personally believe Director Chen's first plan is more in line with the company's interests!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Lin Jianguo and He Guangming both frowned. Building the resettlement housing would not only create GDP for Qingshui City but also bring extra income to Ordinary People's Meat Industry Co., Ltd. Yet, as chairman, Zhou Wenbin only thinks about distancing himself from responsibility from Chen Yang……

At this moment, Lin Jianguo suddenly regretted listening to Old Master Lin's advice and placing Zhou Wenbin in the chairman's position at Ordinary People's Meat Industry Co., Ltd.

"Comrade He Guangming, if we adopt the first plan, does your district face any pressure?"

"Mayor, as long as the developer of Happy Farmland Residential Area is willing to provide convenience for the employees of Ordinary People's Meat Industry Co., Ltd, we can additionally compensate them with a plot of land nearby." He Guangming answered readily.

The contractor of Happy Farmland Residential Area is Sunshine Real Estate, and the two projects it has built in Qingshui City are currently the most popular in the market.

He Guangming wishes more high-quality developers like Sunshine Real Estate would join the construction efforts in Southern District.

Seeing that He Guangming had no objection, Lin Jianguo immediately decided to adopt Chen Yang's first plan.

Because he had carefully considered it, he also found that this plan could most directly and effectively resolve the company's conflict with employees at the current stage.

Once this issue is settled, if new problems arise later, he will have to reassess Zhou Wenbin's leadership ability.

To stabilize public sentiment, Lin Jianguo again gathered the employees of Ordinary People's Meat Industry Co., Ltd and personally announced that, in Happy Farmland Residential Area, all employees who have not yet received housing would be offered a 50% welfare housing unit. At the same time, he announced that he would negotiate with banks to provide low-interest loan support to employees facing financial difficulties.

After the announcement, the venue erupted in warm applause.