I Inherited 5,000 Years of Family Property-Chapter 327 - 325: Let Them Go on a Paid Strike

"Mr. Zhang, you’re putting me in a difficult position," Berenas said with a troubled expression. "Although I hold some influence among the workers, the matter of striking isn’t something I can just declare on my own!"

If the employees really went on strike, then they would inevitably receive no compensation at all. Everyone needs to support their families, and without an income, how would they survive?

Moreover, without any good reason, he couldn’t prompt the company’s employees to strike. The company provided excellent benefits and the workload was moderate; at least the employees were very satisfied with the overall situation at the company.

If he were to lead a strike under these circumstances, the workers would probably ignore him entirely. Even worse, if this reached the higher-ups, he would be the first to be fired. Then he wouldn’t be able to talk about being the president of the union, he might even lose his job!

"Of course, I certainly wouldn’t ask you to do such a thing without good reason," Zhang Menglong pulled out a stack of contracts and placed them in front of Berenas, "These are the strategic investment agreements I’ve signed with several hundred companies in Silicon Valley Town. You can take a look."

"Investment agreements?" Berenas picked up a document curiously.

"Employee salary increases must not be less than 100%!" Berenas’s eyes widened; Zhang Menglong not only invested a significant amount in those companies but even set conditions for increasing employee wages. Was this his preparation?

"Now, do you see a way forward?" Zhang Menglong smiled.

"Yes! Of course, there is!" Berenas was suddenly excited.

What kind of people were they employing in their company? The management came from top universities, and the engineers were highly experienced. Even the assembly line workers had been strictly selected.

Qualcomm Electronics was undoubtedly the best company in Silicon Valley Town, with the best treatment and brightest future prospects. Nearly everyone was desperate to join this company.

But Zhang Menglong had doubled the treatment of other companies’ employees! Ordinary workers were earning salaries higher than Qualcomm Electronics engineers; who the hell could tolerate that?

Did they want to switch jobs? They could! But Zhang Menglong’s contract specified that employees who switched jobs would not receive salary increases.

That meant, even if Qualcomm Electronics’ employees wanted to seek other opportunities, there was no way they could, unless they left Silicon Valley Town. If they wanted to make a living, they would have to stay at Qualcomm Electronics.

Even if Berenas didn’t instigate it, when the whole workforce learned of this news, they would probably be outraged. Using his influence and prestige among the workers, he was confident that he could motivate at least fifty percent of them to strike in protest.

Berenas voiced his confidence, expecting Zhang Menglong to be pleased, but Zhang Menglong frowned.

"50%? That’s not enough! I need at least 80% of them to strike!" Zhang Menglong said.

"Mr. Zhang, that’s unrealistic!" Berenas analyzed, "Even if the company’s treatment causes dissatisfaction among the employees, most of them are aged 30 to 35—they have elderly parents and young children to support. This is the age when they need money the most. They need income, and even if the salaries are low, they will keep working!"

"That’s true!" Zhang Menglong pondered for a moment. When people are in dire straits, as long as they have an income, no matter how tough, tiring, or unfair the conditions, they will endure it; not everyone has the courage to break the pot and strike.

If the company’s upper management conceded to raise wages due to pressure, then that would be one thing; but if the strike failed and the managers didn’t compromise, they wouldn’t only lose the income from the strike period but also fail to maintain their own rights.

The most critical point is that those companies could afford such high salaries because Zhang Menglong, the world’s richest man, was manipulating things behind the scenes; this money was basically free, and they didn’t care at all about raising wages.

But it was different for Qualcomm Electronics; if they also doubled employee salaries, it would be a huge cost, a loss the entire company might not be able to bear.

If it dragged on for a month or two, even if the company could afford it, the employees might not.

"Does your union have a union fund?" Zhang Menglong asked.

"Yes!" Berenas answered, "The union’s funds come from dividends from the company’s annual revenue. We use it to purchase gifts for employees on special holidays or to reward employees who make outstanding contributions to the company."

"Give me the account number!"

Berenas immediately rattled off a string of numbers. Due to the employees’ support, he had always managed this fund.

"Otto, restrict this account to transferring 100 million US dollars!"

"Yes, Mr. Zhang!"

A moment later, Berlainas received a text from the bank, confirming the account had indeed received a huge sum of 100 million US dollars!

"Mr. Zhang, are you...?"

"Aren’t they worried about losing their source of income?" Zhang Menglong smiled, "Well, if we let them strike with pay, there won’t be any problems, right?"

"Paid strike!" I’ve heard of getting paid to poop, but never a paid strike.

"For employees willing to participate in the strike, I will compensate them with their full monthly salary, and even double it as a bonus. I have only one requirement: the scale of this strike must be large, and it must last a long time!"

"With your word, I am confident that over 90% of the people will go on strike!"

Not only not needing to work, but also receiving double the salary—who wouldn’t want such a deal!

"Good," Zhang Menglong nodded in satisfaction, "from today, I will deposit 100 million US dollars into this account every month. After the strike ends, whatever money remains in this account will be your bonus!" Explore more adventures at novelbuddy

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"Really!?" Berlainas seemed to have heard the most beautiful language in the world.

The account holds 100 million US dollars!

The union has about 7,000 members, each with an average income of about 5,000 US dollars. Even with a double bonus, it averages 10,000 US dollars per person.

Even if all employees join the strike, it would only amount to 70 million US dollars a month, and he could earn 30 million US dollars a month! Just this amount of money alone was enough for him to squander indefinitely.

If the strike goes on for several more months, then...

"What I, Zhang Menglong, have said, will never be taken back!"

"Good! Mr. Zhang, then I wish us a fruitful cooperation!"

...

To prevent Berlainas from doing anything unpredictable, Zhang Menglong had Ye Yin quietly install a tiny listening device in Berlainas’ pocket. This listening device, the size of a grain of rice, was developed by one of Zhang Menglong’s scientific research institutions and could cover a radius of 10 kilometers with its signal!

With this listening device, Zhang Menglong would monitor Berlainas’ every move!

After leaving, Berlainas did not return to his company dormitory but continued to stay at the bar.

He immediately contacted several other members of the Qualcomm Electronics union, and soon, five or six people gathered in a private room of the bar.

"Berlainas, it’s so late, what do you need us for?" a tall black man asked.

"Did you strike it rich?" another union member said, "The basic consumption in this bar’s private room costs thousands of dollars, you didn’t win the lottery and are treating us to drinks, did you?"

...

"Everyone quiet down and listen to me!" Berlainas put on a serious expression, "The jackpot I hit this time is even bigger than the lottery!"