The sudden emergence of trade union activities shocked Scrooge. He realized that if he did not nip the danger in the bud after the tentacles of trade unions penetrated every corner of the enterprise in the future, he would not be able to get involved. To deal with it, the price to be paid will be astonishingly high. Fortunately, it is still the nineteenth century. This is a beautiful era of freedom. Capitalists are free to use various means to deal with workers. For example, at that time, there was almost no need for any reason to fire a worker. You just need to settle the wages for the day and tell him: "You don't have to come to work tomorrow." That's enough, there are no messy labor protection laws, let alone lawyers and the like who come to trouble you with such things. And the trade unions of that era, and the 21st century, have become the climate, and the trade unions with considerable influence and financial strength are completely incomparable. In the 21st century, the trade unions have their team of lawyers. Its financial support, as well as its political influence. At that time, it was not impossible to fire a union member for no reason, but it would be a little troublesome. Unlike now, it is simple, fast, and straightforward. It was an amazing golden age.

The next day, before the workers of each shift began to work, the Hamilton factory manager gathered them together and told them that there were more important things to tell them. This kind of thing has never happened before, so everyone is a little surprised and a little worried.

"Hey Smith, do you know what's going on?" a worker asked.

"I don't know, 'Have you heard something? " asked the worker named Smith.

"I'm not very clear, but I heard..." The man looked around and said in a low voice, "I heard that a few workers were fired yesterday. I don't know if it's because of this..."

"Someone got fired? For what? Was someone trying to get the drugs out?"

"I don't know, but it shouldn't be. If that's the case, it's not as simple as being expelled. I'm afraid it's..."

At this time, the factory director Hamilton walked out of the office, boarded a few wooden crates that had been prepared long ago, which were stacked together very irregularly, but said to represent the tradition of democracy, and began his lectures.

"Maybe you don't know it yet, just yesterday when you got off work, Neil the porter, Terry the picker, Carter, and some others were fired from the company."

As soon as these words came out, the audience suddenly became lively, and many people whispered to each other. Hamilton looked at the surprise and fear on the workers' faces with satisfaction, paused, and continued:

"Why were they fired? Was it because they screwed up the machine and filled the wrong drug? No, it wasn't! But the problem was much bigger than that! So what did they do? I tell you, they dared to fight The trade unionists of other companies hooked up. This is a more serious mistake than a job mistake, and it is an intolerable mistake! So, they were all fired!"

This sentence was like throwing a big stone into a calm pond. During the whole workshop, all the workers began to whisper to each other.

"Just because of this? But what kind of organization do you want to join? Isn't this the freedom of Americans guaranteed by the Constitution? Just because of this...it's too..." a worker said.

"If you want me to say, they are all honest and good people, and they didn't do anything, why is it like this..."

"Yeah, some unions are going on strike or something, but no one here thinks about it. It's too..."

"You guys be quiet!" Seeing the workers talking, Hamilton shouted.

The surrounding voices gradually quieted down, and everyone stared at Director Hamilton, hoping that he could give a more detailed explanation.

"Just now I heard someone say that the freedom to join political organizations is the freedom of all Americans guaranteed by the Constitution." Hamilton said slowly, "That's true, this is indeed your freedom. The company has no right to interfere. However, don’t forget that the Constitution also guarantees the freedom of the company. Whether the company is willing to hire you is also protected by the Constitution. Just like you have the freedom to leave the company and go to other companies. The company is only exercising Your freedom does not constitute a violation of your freedom."

Hamilton's explanation seems plausible, and it embodies the ideal of a free economy. Enterprises are free to choose employees, and employees are also free to choose enterprises. Even now, advocates of the free economy are still claiming that since everyone is free and voluntary in this two-way choice, then naturally there is no so-called exploitation and oppression. On the contrary, if this freedom is interfered with, whether it is an enterprise that does not allow workers to freely choose to work for or an enterprise that does not allow enterprises to freely choose employees, it is the road to slavery.

Faced with such a profound question, many modern people who have received various educations will feel dizzy, let alone those illiterate or semi-literate workers in the 19th century. Everyone was naturally speechless.

"Some people also said that their actions did not cause losses to the company." The director of Hamilton raised his tone, "Yes, so far, they have indeed not had time to cause losses to our company. But! But what is a labor union? A union is a bunch of slackers, scoundrels, gangsters, a group of guys who don't want to work honestly. They are together all day long, not thinking about how to improve their skills, how to make their jobs better Well, then earning money by the labor of their hands, thinking only of working less, or even not working, and then getting more money. If they are not satisfied, they will strike, they will make trouble, and even Destroy the equipment of the enterprise! Make those hardworking people unable to make money. They are a bunch of lazy and savage scoundrels! Laziness and savagery are contagious, no matter how honest and hardworking a person There is no guarantee that you won't get this habit when you mix with other guys. There is no cure for this kind of epidemic, not even our sulfonamides and heroin can deal with it.

If a person had the Black Death and wanted to visit your house, would you allow it? If you saw a man, hugged and kissed a plague patient, and walked towards you, wouldn't you avoid him? Why? Has he not done you any harm yet? Yes, he did me no harm, but that was all because I shut the gates tight, keeping him and the deadly plague he carried out! It's because I have no tolerance for anything that might threaten my family's health to sneak in!

Keeping these guys out of contact with those guys who carry the deadly plague is not only responsible to the company but also to everyone. "The director of Hamilton slowed down his tone, put on that amiable face again, and continued:

"As you know, our company has always been very concerned about your well-being. Many of us have worked in other companies and know other companies. In our company, we only need to work every day. Eight hours, at least one-third less than other companies. And in the case of working hours less than others, we pay you wages, not only not less than others, but even more. The money earned by the company If there are too many, we will even take the initiative to increase your wages. Search all over the United States and even the world. Where can you find such a good company? When you come to such a company, you don’t work hard to make money, but Hanging out with those hooligans, do you think it should be?

In conclusion, I repeat that unions are sanctuaries for rogues. Our company is decent, and the people who work in our company are all decent. We will never allow anyone to get involved with those hooligans! I hope you can learn from it. "

The speech of the factory director Hamilton was over, but the workers were still talking about it. But apparently, no one intends to jump out and question the company's decision. First, most of them are illiterate and semi-literate, and they can’t refute the set of things that Hamilton’s factory director said; secondly, Hamilton’s factory director has made it clearer—the company has the freedom to fire any employee, so there are still people Popping out for the company to demonstrate that freedom again? Yes, apart from McDonnell Chemical and Pharmaceutical Company, other companies in this world may not be permanently unemployed and starve to death. However, most places are worse than this. In a free market, workers and companies are not equals. In this unequal situation, no matter how many choices there are, it does not mean that there will be fairness, not any free, "voluntary" exchange must be a fair exchange.

"Okay, stop whining, it's time to go to work, go to work, hand over!" the supervisors shouted.

...

Scrooge and Rockefeller stood together in Hamilton's office, watching Hamilton perform through the window.

"This guy is not bad," Rockefeller said.

"Of course." Scrooge said, "At any rate, he has gone to college. If he can't fool some illiterate and semi-literate people, isn't that reading for nothing?"

"Well, this kind of action should not only be carried out in this factory but also in other factories." Rockefeller said, "We must clean up the enterprises under our hands carefully to remove all potential dangers."

"Yes, but that's not enough, John," said Scrooge.

"Then what do you want to do? Do you want to send black water to blow up those trade unions?" Rockefeller looked at Scrooge.

"Hehe, are you addicted to frying DuPont?" Scrooge smiled, "It's useless, once there is a wave of bombing, there will be a new wave. Besides, these trade unions, as long as they don't make trouble in my territory, it's fine. "

"Well, you're still waiting for it to make trouble for others? Right?" Rockefeller laughed.

"Correct, you are a good friend of mine, I knew I couldn't hide this little thought from you."

"Scrooge, tell me what other plans you have?"

"A great man once said that if we don't occupy any position, the enemy will." Scrooge deliberately played a riddle.

"Which great man said something like this? You didn't make it up, did you? Well, what you mean is that instead of guarding against the infiltration of those trade unions from outside, we should create a trade union that is completely obedient to us. ?” Rockefeller understood immediately. He thought for a while, then gave a thumbs up and said to Scrooge, "That is smart, it's really smart!"