Chapter 350

351. Chapter 347: Strike

"I... have been fired?"

Jonny looked at the manager in disbelief. Although this was his goal, he was still very unhappy that he had been fired so easily.

This feeling was roughly like... we can break up, but I must be the one to dump you!

Jonny's complexion turned red visibly to the naked eye. He grabbed the cup in front of him and threw it at the manager, "You son of a bitch, I'll kill you!"

The manager had been watching him for a long time. When he saw him make the throwing motion, he immediately dodged, and the conference room instantly descended into chaos!

Vaughn did not expect the situation to erupt so suddenly. Although he was on Lanse's side, letting Jonny beat up the manager was clearly not a good choice. He and the workers held Jonny back, and the manager took the opportunity to escape into the lounge.

In the lounge, the three directors looked at the manager, "You need to give us an explanation."

For them, there is always room for redemption—the manager.

As long as the board of directors feels they have reached the edge of danger, they can dispose of the manager to largely soothe the resentment of the underclass workers.

In ancient times, the rule of the aristocracy was actually much harsher than the rule of capitalists today, but why were there actually not many people rebelling?

Because when the rule became unstable, they would kill a tax collector, kill a magistrate, or even kill a few relatives, and the rule would become stable again.

People always believe that those who create all misfortunes and disasters are always the middle-level managers.

Not the underclass, nor the upper class. How could those masters who drink soup with golden spoons bother with the underclass pariahs who roll up their pant legs and go barefoot?

Those who make things difficult for them are always those vicious, hateful management layers.

But they never realized a problem: why do the masters always choose those evil management layers, and they also don't understand why the masters only discover what these people have done when people are about to be unable to endure it.

They will never understand, nor will they think about it; they will only play a part in the ruler's game that does not require thinking.

For the board of directors, the manager played such a role, a role that could soothe the workers' emotions.

Every time they encountered similar things, it was solved this way. For the board of directors and the big capitalists, they actually already had a mature method for dealing with underclass workers.

So even though they were a little dissatisfied with the manager's sudden decision now, it was only dissatisfaction, and it had not reached the point of letting him get out right now.

The three people sat, and the manager stood. He explained, "Jonny is clearly here to stir up trouble, gentlemen."

"I have already promised huge benefits, but he still won't be swayed by the price I offered. This shows that from the beginning, his goal was not to shake us down, but a pay raise!"

"Even if we make more concessions in other areas, as long as his demands are not met on the issue of a pay raise, he will still make trouble."

"Then, why don't we just fire him directly? If he likes to make trouble, let him make trouble. If he should sue us, or if he wants to sue me, let him do so."

"New Jincheng has a population of 1.5 million, gentlemen."

"And this is still the uncertain statistical result from half a year ago!"

"There have also been a large number of stowaways coming to this city during this period. Perhaps the population here has already exceeded 1.6 million or even 1.7 million!"

"With so many illegal immigrants waiting for job opportunities, please forgive me for being direct."

"If the board of directors has the courage to adopt the method I mentioned before, we can still push the standard down to a lower number in terms of wages!"

The manager had previously submitted a proposal to the board of directors, which was to hand over 70% of the positions to immigrants and illegal immigrants.

If the immigration bureau investigates, at most, it would just be firing these workers.

Even if fined, the fine amount has actually already been saved from hiring these people.

Hiring an illegal immigrant only costs 18.5 per month. There are more than 10,000 workers here. If all cheap illegal immigrant workers are used, then just on wages alone, 200,000 can be saved every month!

That is 2.4 million a year!

2.4 million, the immigration bureau at most fines a few tens of thousands, a hundred thousand, and at most, a few hundred thousand is the limit. The rest is all "profit space."

But the board of directors needs to consider many things, not just the issue of wage expenditures, but also social influence and social responsibility issues, so currently, the mainstream group among the worker groups at the dock is still native federal people.

One of the directors said thoughtfully after listening, "If it triggers greater public opposition, what do you plan to do?"

The manager was stunned for a moment. He suddenly realized that perhaps he, at this moment, was not too far from his dream!

He swallowed a mouthful of saliva, "Sir, if the workers' collective opposition is very loud, I plan to do three things."

"The first thing, I will find some of them and bribe them."

"These poor wretches are very sensitive to money. One thousand, two thousand, if that doesn't work, three thousand, five thousand!"

"If you are not willing, there are others who are willing. We only need to handle some people with a certain influence and let the worker group split into two parts internally."

"Then guide the conflict between us and the workers toward the two camps within the workers, let them become enemies of each other, and we only need to make some appropriate concessions, add some carrots and beef to their lunch, and that will be it!"

"The second thing, for those who firmly oppose us, not only must we fire them, but we must also have lawyers sue them for inciting workers to sabotage production and make them compensate for our economic losses."

"Regardless of whether the lawsuit can be won in the end, as long as we can drag them to death in the litigation, that will be enough."

"Finally, we can recruit those immigrant workers on a larger scale. Aren't their current wages 18 to 19?"

"We will raise them to 20 and adjust the ratio of native workers to immigrant workers."

"As long as these three steps can be executed, gentlemen, I can ensure that it will be difficult for them to stir up any waves!"

Some surprise flashed in the eyes of the three directors. They exchanged some opinions with each other and finally approved the manager's plan.

"You have a very outstanding brain. Don't let down God's favor for you."

"This matter is fully entrusted to you to do."

The three directors then all stood up, "We don't want to waste time here. If you can handle this matter, as well as these people, and lower the wages."

"I will nominate you to be on the list of company partner candidates at the quarterly meeting in September."

The manager's mouth could no longer be suppressed. He hurriedly bent his waist and lowered his head, tamely expressing his gratitude to the directors.

Only two to three people can become company partners each year, but each branch and each region reports many names.

After discussion by the board of directors, they will select some of the most outstanding employees among them and let them become partners or even senior partners.

As long as one can enter this class, it means they stand in the upper-middle level of the middle class!

There are stable dividends every year, as well as incentive shares. They will also become shareholders of the company, not just an ordinary employee!

"I guarantee I can handle this matter well..."

In another room, Jonny's emotions had calmed down a lot. He sat on the sofa in a daze.

After his emotions calmed down, he felt a trace of fear.

Yes, fear.

He has been working at the dock all his life. This is like the life of the vast majority of underclass federal people. For them, this job will accompany them for their whole life.

But now, he suddenly lost this job, just as if a piece was suddenly missing from his life, empty, making a muscle-bound man who never thought about life start to think about life.

He even had an uneasy feeling of wanting to take a dump!

Just like when doing bad things in elementary school, being caught red-handed by the teacher!

"Jonny, are you okay?"

Jonny turned his head to look at them, a bit dazed, and it seemed to take a few seconds to come back to his senses, "I'm fine, I'm fine..."

Other worker representatives stood by his side, "We will support you. If they really dare to fire you, we will definitely launch a strike."

Vaughn also expressed his support for him, "If you need legal aid, we can provide you with legal aid for free."

Perhaps it was these comforts that played a role, Jonny squeezed out some smiles, "I feel much better!"

He paused, "Even if they really want to fire me, I won't compromise. This instead makes me more determined in my own idea, to fight them!"

He waved his fist, "Fight to the last moment!"

This was clearly a very unsuccessful negotiation. After the board representative left, the manager gained almost unlimited power. When returning to the desk again, he didn't even intend to let this boring game continue.

"Jonny, you have been fired, and I will have lawyers collect evidence that you influenced production and sabotaged company benefits, and I will also sue you!"

"And you all, don't think that you can threaten the company. New Jincheng never lacks people to work!"

"I suggest you be smarter and think about who is paying your wages, allowing you and your family to maintain a stable life."

"Don't mess up your own life because of other people's affairs. You are not heroes, and you can't be heroes."

"Being a hero requires paying a price. It could be life, or it could be your job!"

He took one last look at Vaughn, "I have to consider next year's donation!"

After speaking, he directly picked up his things and left, leaving without looking back.

Only the union people and worker representatives were left in the conference room. They all seemed to have become... a bit silent.

After returning to the office, the manager directly dialed Charlie's phone. Charlie jumped out to express that he wanted to participate in the municipal councilor election, which was also one of the reasons for the manager's toughness.

After all, the "Bay Area Hound" has served this city for many years, and everyone has seen his ability.

The phone was connected quickly, and then the manager expressed that he would donate a political contribution to him, but when he needed his help to solve the problem at the dock, Charlie agreed immediately.

He is the hound of the Bay Area, not the hound of the working class. He has no reason and obligation to serve the underclass people!

With Charlie's coordination, soon the port area arranged for some police to come downstairs to the company to maintain order.

The appearance of the police made the emotions of the worker group, which was not too tense originally, become a bit tense and uneasy.

People have an innate fear of the police. The more underclass they are, the more obvious this feeling is.

Because they cannot afford any loss in life, they don't even dare to look directly at these police when they are alone!

God knows if these police will think their eyes are unfriendly, thereby arresting them, making them lose their jobs, and making everything head toward destruction!

The police couldn't detect it, but the atmosphere at the scene was indeed changing.

A few minutes later, Jonny and others walked out from the company gate.

People immediately surrounded them, asking about the results of the negotiation. They didn't say anything, just shook their heads.

"Sorry everyone, I was unable to make the company compromise on the issue of a pay raise, and I was even fired by them!"

One sentence made the workers around him uproar!

A person who asked the company for a pay raise for them was fired by the company!

Many people stood at the company gate and sent the most sincere and enthusiastic greetings to the manager's whole family, but these words were of no use.

The workers' emotions were clearly at the extreme of anger. At this time, while they were still noisy, some blue uniforms suddenly huddled together.

A young guy stood out, "Although we are not formal workers, I can also understand the solidarity of the working class."

"This is a special time. The dock management company is trying to use this method to force us to bow our heads."

"If we are silent and no longer speak out, then they will further exploit us and oppress us."

"I don't know the big truths that those big shots know. I only know that if someone bullies you and you don't want to be bullied."

"Then the only thing you should do is to punch them and tell them you are not to be trifled with!"

"We are workers, workers united have strength!"

An idea that people had thought of but hadn't fully exposed yet began to break through the ground under the promotion of these people. Jonny looked at them, and although he knew this was a script, he was still very moved.

He walked over and hugged these people, "Thank you, thank you for your support, but it's completely unnecessary."

He turned to look at those ordinary local workers, "I did a lot of bad things before. I wanted to make it up to everyone, but it seems I didn't do it well."

"I don't want you to do anything for me. After all, a stable job is not easy. You have families, you have lives."

"Maybe... they are sometimes not very good to you, but enduring it can always pass..."

"Fuck!", a young man suddenly shouted loudly, "Can you endure it?"

"I'm not familiar with Jonny. I don't care what he was like before. At least he was fired for raising the issue of a pay raise now. We owe him!"

That young man took off his hat and threw it hard on the ground, "I'm not enduring it, and I'm not doing it anymore!"

Sometimes emotions are like sparks falling into a gasoline tank, and in an instant, they can gain power that people can't imagine!

Soon there was a second young man who took off his hat and threw it hard on the ground, "I'm not doing it anymore either. Whoever can endure it, let them endure it!"

The blue uniforms neatly threw their hats on the ground. These actions began to fission toward the surroundings like an infectious disease caused by a super virus!

The police maintaining order under the company saw this scene, and their expressions all changed.

They had already realized the seriousness of the problem!

Strikes have never been an easy topic.

The manager soon knew the situation, but he didn't care at all, and even asked people to count who were the first to take the lead in saying they wanted to strike, and then fire all these people.

As for the strike?

In his view, it couldn't be struck!

Soon, a large number of recruitment posters were posted outside the dock. They didn't require whether they were locals, illegal immigrants were also fine, as long as they were willing to work, they could all come to the dock to work.

The chaos at the dock was further developing. When the mayor heard the news, he also frowned tightly.

"Ask what's going on.", he asked his secretary to inquire.

Now the mayor's power is constantly expanding and inflating. Naturally, many people are also willing to get on the bus at this time.

Political speculation has always been a gambling game more exciting than gambling. Ordinary gambling, if you lose, at most you lose wealth, making you go from a rich person to a poor person, but political speculation, sometimes what you lose is not as simple as money.

It could also be life, or other precious things.

Some people who were optimistic about the mayor had already defected. These people were often those who were frustrated under the original social system!

Although they might not have such a high social status, in terms of obtaining information, it might be more convenient.

Soon the chaos at the dock reached the mayor's ears. After listening, he frowned directly.

If a strike appears at the dock, it will become very troublesome.

Thinking of this, he dialed a number, and the phone was connected quickly.

"I heard that a strike storm is brewing at the dock?"

"What exactly is going on?"

The person on the other end of the phone roughly explained the process of the matter. After listening, the mayor began to worry, "I am going to hold a public speech tomorrow, and now the workers at the dock want to strike."

"That old dog Charlie also suddenly announced that he wanted to run for municipal councilor. It seems that all things are coincidentally concentrated together. Is this really a coincidence?"

The person on the other end of the phone couldn't answer his question, because no one knew whether this was a coincidence, or whether someone was pushing for everything to happen behind the scenes!

"Is there any way to solve this problem?"

The answer from the opposite side was that it could only be tried.

The mayor hung up the phone, lit a cigarette, and looked at the secretary, saying softly, "Williams has made a move..."