Chapter 360 We workers have strength

The manufacturing industry in Wisconsin is very developed, and its industrial output accounts for more than 40% of the state's total output value, which is rare in the United States, where the service industry accounts for 80% of the output value.

Milwaukee is the largest city in Wisconsin and the top industrial city in the United States. It is the center of heavy machinery manufacturing in the United States, in addition to producing electrical equipment, auto parts, medical equipment, electronic products and home appliances.

Whirlpool's microwave oven factory is built in Milwaukee.

After get off work, a small bar near the microwave factory soon flooded with workers.

In that era, there was no Internet, and daily entertainment activities were much less. For these blue-collar workers, going to the bar to drink a bottle of beer after get off work was the biggest pastime of the day.

The Miller Beer Company in Milwaukee is the second largest beer producer in the United States, so Milwaukee people like to drink beer, and beer is a must-have drink for Milwaukee people.

This is probably like the old Qingdao people who carry a plastic bag of draft beer home every day after get off work.

Although the United States also checks for drink-driving, it is the country with the most lenient drinking-driving standards.

Since the United States is a federal country, each state has independent legislative power, so the standards for the identification of drunk driving are also inconsistent among states.

Broader states have a blood alcohol concentration of 0.10% or higher, and most states have a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08% or higher.

In China, the standard for drinking and driving is that the blood alcohol concentration is higher than 0.02%, and the standard for drunk driving is higher than 0.08%. That is to say, the drunk driving standard in the United States is equivalent to the drunk driving standard in China.

Ordinary 300ml small cans of beer, if you want to drink a blood alcohol concentration higher than 0.08%, you need about five or six cans on an empty stomach, and you have to quickly pour tons of beer into your stomach. If you drink it slowly, you need to eat at the same time. Small food, drink eight bottles of beer to meet this standard.

So it's perfectly fine for a normal person in the US to drink two beers and then drive home.

The loose drinking and driving standards have made small bars everywhere in the United States, forming a unique bar culture in the United States.

...

Tyler walked into the bar and saw several acquaintances with colleagues who had already found a place to sit, each with a bottle of beer in hand.

Taylor is also a worker in the Whirlpool microwave oven factory. In addition, he has another identity in the factory, that is, a trade union cadre of the Whirlpool microwave oven factory. Therefore, Taylor also has some prestige among the workers.

Tyler glanced around the bar and saw one of the tables, a well-dressed man in a suit was sitting, chatting with his colleagues.

Taylor suddenly felt a little strange. Usually, at this time, the bar is full of blue-collar workers who just got off work, so there are such decent people here.

Tyler walked to the bar, asked for a bottle of beer, and then asked the bartender, What's that guy in the suit over there?

You said Mr. Adams, he has been here all afternoon. The bartender paused, then continued; This Mr. Adams is from New York,

Come to Milwaukee to invest and build a factory.

What factory? Taylor asked again.

Build a microwave factory! Mr. Adams is going to move his microwave factory to Milwaukee, the bartender replied.

So his factory is in New York? Then why did he move the factory to Milwaukee? Taylor asked.

The bartender thought for a while and said, I heard that because Wisconsin's manufacturing industry uses electricity, part of the tax can be deducted, and the Wisconsin Development Fund loan will provide low-interest loans to businesses that increase job opportunities.

I see. Tyler nodded. After hesitating for a few seconds, he took the beer bottle and walked to Adams' table, wanting to hear what Adams was saying to his colleagues.

At this time, Adams was discussing salary with other workers.

Do you only make $10 an hour? That's much cheaper than New York! If I hire a skilled worker in New York, I'll pay $15 an hour! Adams said.

Mr. Adams, are you saying that a worker like me can earn $15 an hour in your factory? one of them asked in surprise.

Adams nodded: Of course, a skilled worker like you with ten years of work experience may not be able to get an hourly salary of $15. But that's New York, and no matter what you do in New York, it's better than others. The place is expensive!”

That's why you're going to move the factory to Milwaukee! another said.

Yes, workers in Milwaukee are much cheaper than New York! In addition, Wisconsin has many preferential policies for manufacturing, such as energy tax credits, such as low-sucking loans!

Adams said, took a sip of the wine glass on the table, and continued: If I move the factory to Milwaukee, it will probably create 500 jobs for Milwaukee, and I should get at least $10 million from the Wisconsin state government. low-interest loans.”

Mr. Adams, do you really plan to move your microwave oven factory to Milwaukee? Someone asked again.

I just had this idea, but after my research for a while, I think the factory should be moved to Milwaukee. Adams replied.

At this point, Taylor, who had been listening for a long time, finally came closer and asked, Mr. Adams, if you move the factory to Milwaukee, you should need to recruit workers again?

Of course, workers in New York are reluctant to come to Milwaukee to work. After all, the salary in New York is higher than that in Milwaukee, so I must recruit new workers. Adams replied.

Then how much are you going to pay? Taylor paused, then asked; I mean that kind of skilled worker.

Adams thought for a while and said, I know that Whirlpool pays you $10 an hour. If I also pay you $10, probably no workers will come, so I plan to pay $11 an hour, like this , I will soon be able to recruit two or three hundred workers!

11 dollars an hour! There were many workers around.

Taylor said, A salary of $11 is not enough!

Not enough? Adams was stunned for a moment, then asked: Don't you pay only $10 an hour for your Whirlpool workers?

Taylor smiled slightly and then said; Whirlpool is about to raise wages for workers soon, and it is expected that the hourly wages will increase by at least 50 cents!

As soon as Taylor said this, someone next to him immediately asked, Taylor, is your union negotiating with the management again for a salary increase?

Taylor didn't answer, just showed a reverie expression.

Adams looked at Taylor and asked, Sir, are you a union member of the Whirlpool factory?

I'm a trade union cadre, my name is Taylor, Mr. Adams, nice to meet you. Taylor said.

Mr. Taylor, you just said that Whirlpool is going to give workers a raise? Adams asked.

Well, huh, the salary increase is certain. As for how much, it's hard to say. Taylor said.

Adams hesitated, then said, Looks like I have to make $12 an hour to get workers in Milwaukee!

With an hourly wage of $12, there will definitely be skilled workers to choose your factory. Taylor said with a smile.

Adams said, Mr. Taylor, can you give me your contact information?

Of course! Taylor readily handed over his contact information to Adams.

...

After Adams left, colleagues immediately surrounded Taylor in the center.

Taylor, you just said that the factory will give us a wage increase, at least 50 cents an hour, is that true? Someone asked.

Fake! I said it to that Adams on purpose! Taylor said.

It's fake news? Why did you lie to that Adams? asked another person next to him.

If I didn't talk like that, how could he have raised his hourly rate from $11 to $12, Taylor replied.

Taylor, shouldn't you be going to that Adams factory? His factory is still in New York, who knows when it will move to Milwaukee. Someone next to him asked.

Taylor shook his head: I have no plans to leave Whirlpool for the time being, but I deliberately asked Adams to raise his offer for the benefit of our workers.

We can ask Whirlpool to give us a raise! If Whirlpool does not give us a salary increase, we threaten to change jobs, I believe Whirlpool will definitely compromise!

In the next few days, Adams kept in touch with Taylor. At first, he just inquired about the situation of Whirlpool workers. Later, he simply hinted to Taylor directly that he hoped that when his factory was completed, Taylor could bring Whirlpool workers to his new factory.

And that was all the more firm, Taylor offered Whirlpool for a raise.

...

Whirlpool headquarters, Michigan, Smith received a message from Milwaukee.

In the microwave oven factory, the union asks for a raise? Smith frowned.

When opening a factory in the United States, one cannot avoid trade unions. The trade unions in the United States are never idle, asking for salary increases, vacations, reduction of working hours, and daily benefits every three days.

As a corporate manager in the United States, dealing with labor unions is also a required course.

How much are the people in the union asking for a salary increase this time? Smith asked.

They're asking for an increase of $2 an hour, the other end of the phone said.

The hourly wage increase of $2, are these workers crazy! Smith snorted coldly.

Each worker pays $2 more per hour, $16 more for eight hours a day, and $80 more for five days a week, which is $320 a month and $3,840 a year. The entire microwave oven factory in Milwaukee costs an additional $2 million a year! This is obviously impossible for Whirlpool to accept.

More importantly, if the workers in the microwave oven factory are given a wage increase, the unions in other factories will definitely ask for a wage increase if they hear about it. Whirlpool has dozens of factories in the United States. If they all raise wages, Whirlpool may ask for a wage increase. Pay billions of dollars more.

Even a giant company like Whirlpool cannot afford to spend hundreds of millions of dollars more every year.

The other end of the phone continued: Mr. Smith, the union said that if we don't meet their demands, they will strike! I don't think the union is trying to scare us this time. I'm afraid they are coming.

When is the union not coming for real! Smith snorted coldly.

Trade unions in the United States are the most troublesome existence for entrepreneurs. As early as before World War II, the United States established laws to protect labor unions, and in the following decades, related laws or bills have also been introduced.

In addition, American politicians often woo trade unions for elections and make various promises to trade unions. Once they are elected, they will naturally fulfill their promises, which makes the trade unions in the United States more and more confident.

Smith thought for a while and said, You talk to the union leaders first, it's impossible to raise wages by $2 an hour, but they can raise wages by 20 cents an hour, but the premise is that they can raise it again in the next year. Pay raises.

From the base of 10 dollars, an increase of 20 cents is equivalent to a 2% increase in salary. In exchange for this price, it is not required to ask for a salary increase within a year, which is more acceptable to Whirlpool than buying and selling.

The other side of the phone refused without hesitation: Mr. Smith, this may be difficult. I can be sure that the union will not accept this condition.

Is 20 cents not enough? Smith said in a bad tone.

From what I've contacted with union leaders, I'm afraid I can't even talk about 20 cents. This time the union seems to be very confident. Otherwise, it would be impossible to directly ask for an hourly wage increase of 2 dollars.

Smith took a deep breath. An increase of $2 is equivalent to a 20% increase in salary. It is impossible for a general union to ask for a salary increase.

Under normal circumstances, the union will ask for a salary increase of 5% to 8%, and then go back and forth with the employer. In the end, the two sides will compromise, and they will probably agree on a salary increase of 3% to 5%. At the same time, the employers will also request that the trade unions should not make further demands for salary increases within a certain period of time in the future.

When the deadline is up, the union will jump out again and ask for a 5% to 8% salary increase again, and then a new round of labor-management negotiations will repeat the previous process.

Today, workers in microwave oven factories are asking for a 20% salary increase, which is indeed a bit excessive.

Could it be that some politician has promised the union again? No, the election is next year. Is it too early to make a promise now!

Smith pondered for a moment and said, Well, I will go to Milwaukee tomorrow to deal with this matter.

...

In the conference room, Smith and Taylor have been talking for more than an hour, but they still haven't reached any consensus.

Mr. Taylor, the increase of 50 cents an hour is very sincere. This is equivalent to a 5% increase in salary! I can guarantee that in the United States now, no company will increase workers by so much at one time. Salary. Smith said earnestly.

Taylor shook his head: But you also demand that no further salary increases are allowed within two years. This is only equivalent to a one-year growth rate of 2.5%. Our economic growth rate in the United States last year was 3.5%, only 2.5% of salary. Growth can't even beat inflation!

But what you are asking for is a $1.50 salary increase, which is equivalent to a 15% salary increase. This is simply impossible. We Whirlpool can't afford such a high salary. Smith said.

Our requirement has been reduced from $2 to $1.50, and we will not lower it any more. Taylor said firmly.

Mr. Taylor, if that's the case, then we don't have to talk! Smith snorted coldly and decided to be tough.

However, Taylor was equally tough. He stood up directly and said, Mr. Smith, on behalf of the union, I will inform you that starting next Monday, we will have an indefinite strike until Whirlpool agrees to the union's request!

...

Negotiations broke down, and by Monday, the union had organized a strike.

For Whirlpool, of course, it is impossible to agree to a 15% salary increase. So the two sides were deadlocked.

Next, several politicians in Milwaukee came forward as peacemakers to mediate.

Ultimately, the union reduced the condition to a $1 hourly wage increase and would not ask for another raise for the next year.

Whirlpool did not agree to this condition, they gave two conditions, one is 60 cents an hour, and the union must not ask for a raise in the next two years; the second condition is an increase of $1 per hour, but within the next four years , the union can no longer ask for a raise.

The differences between the two sides are huge, and the negotiations have once again reached an impasse.

...

In a corner of a cafe, Mr. Adams took a stack of banknotes from Li Weidong, counted them carefully, and put them into his arms with a smile.

Adams is indeed from New York, but he is not an entrepreneur, but an 18th-rate Broadway actor, usually best at playing the boss.

The so-called move of the microwave oven factory to Milwaukee is naturally acting, and the $12 an hour salary is also fake.

Adams inadvertently met Taylor, a trade union cadre, which was also arranged in advance. In order to be able to get in touch with Taylor, Adams used to step on the door of the bar for many days.

The ultimate goal, of course, is to provoke Taylor to organize a strike.

The cost of manufacturing in the United States is indeed high, but the management of Whirlpool firmly believes in American manufacturing, and Li Weidong can only use some tricks behind the scenes.

Aren't you superstitious about American manufacturing? Then I will provoke the workers to strike. The workers are no longer working, and even a microwave oven can't be built. Let's see what you are talking about made in the United States!

Based on Li Weidong's knowledge of American trade union organizations, these so-called trade union leaders all focus on immediate interests. Once they know that other businesses are offering higher salaries, they will definitely ask for a raise. If the employer cannot meet the demands for a raise, a strike is inevitable.

Wisconsin is an industrial state, and there has always been a tradition of strikes. If there is disagreement, strikes will be struck. This is also the norm in Wisconsin. In any case, there are many jobs in industrial states, and it is easier for workers to find jobs. The big deal is to change factories.

And things were just as Li Weidong had expected. The labor union of the microwave oven factory organized a strike in order to increase wages.

Adams took the money and asked, Boss, what should I do next?

Li Weidong thought about it and said, The next thing you have to do is to pretend to look for a factory, and let Taylor know about it, and let the union be convinced that you really want to come to Milwaukee to build a factory.

The second is to tell Taylor that your factory will soon be moving to Milwaukee and that it will need a lot of workers! In short, it is to let the workers in the microwave oven factory understand that even if they have a career, they will not have to worry about finding a job. If they come to the new factory, they will earn more!

Got it, boss! Adams nodded.

After sending Adams away, Li Weidong's face showed a wicked smile.

It's time for another trip to Whirlpool headquarters!