Edward (the son of a director at the dock management company) sat in a corner of the conference room. He had come with his father.
Although his father was not the executive director, he was currently one of the rotating directors, somewhat like a vice president.
The executive director presided over the board and the company’s daily work, while the rotating directors were responsible for assisting from the side.
As his son, he naturally brought his son along to see the world. After all, in the end, everything he had would be inherited by this son.
Edward’s gaze was fixed on a few people. James, he knew. He and James were considered friends.
Golden Port was large, but the Bay Area was small. He had spoken with James and had attended the same parties.
The two of them were the same, sitting in positions against the wall, only able to listen, not to speak or take the initiative to talk.
The other person he was paying attention to was the young man sitting relatively far back, Lance White.
When he got the list of names, he found it incredible. Why would such an unpresentable person appear on this list?
He even suspected that someone had made a mistake, until his father told him that the list was personally drawn up by Senator Jeffrey. Only then did he give up that idea.
Why was he here?
In fact, many people had this question. Their gazes constantly touched upon Lance, but Lance sat steadily in his chair as if he hadn’t noticed.
The meeting began very directly. Senator Cleveland looked directly at Edward’s father. “They showed me this document when I arrived yesterday…” He picked up the paper on the table and showed it to the others.
There were three lines of text on it, nothing else. He tilted his head slightly, holding a pen, and read out the contents line by line. “Just these three lines, three demands. You can’t solve this?”
Edward’s father had a look of regret and apology. “Mr. Senator, I am a rotating director of the Golden Port Dock Management Company. I will answer your question.”
“First, the reason our board of directors could not pass this comes from three aspects.”
“First, if we agree to their request to reduce working hours, it means that while the labor they provide remains unchanged, we would need to pay them an extra three dollars and thirty cents in wages each month.”
“In other words, they are now taking the same money but only doing ninety percent of the work they used to. This is definitely a disguised wage increase, and a considerably large one at that.”
“Second, the lunch at the docks may not have a lot of meat and eggs, but it is definitely enough to fill people up. If we increase the amount of meat, eggs, and other food, the meal cost standard will rise. Even if it only increases by three to five cents per day, that’s at least a one-dollar expenditure per month.”
“Third, if their demand for a wage increase of at least one dollar and seventy-five cents were separate, we might be able to complete the negotiations and settle it quickly.”
“But this one dollar and seventy-five cents, added to the previous four dollars and thirty cents, means that if we agree to their conditions, we would be increasing their income by more than six dollars per month. A one-time increase of more than fifteen percent is very unreasonable.”
“This would increase our expenditures. To deal with this, we can only cut jobs and increase the workload of the remaining workers to balance the numbers on the wage expenditure side.”
“But we have feelings for the docks, and we have feelings for the workers…”
The workers let out sounds of ridicule when they heard this. These men sitting in their chairs seemed somewhat out of place with the atmosphere of the scene.
They wore blue t-shirts, bib overalls, and some even wore woolen hats. They were unkempt, and their bodies were wide and large, like giants sitting on children’s chairs, even having to pull in their shoulders.
Their gazes towards the director were also unfriendly. The big-bearded man even sneered, “This is the funniest joke I’ve heard all year. Since you have such feelings for us, can you call out my name?”
The director glanced at him. “I can’t call out your names, but the wages we pay you have allowed you to support yourselves and your families.”
Several workers fell silent after hearing this, because he was not wrong.
Senator Cleveland held his forehead and looked at the contents of the document. “It says here that a few workers were beaten. Who are they?”
Johnny stood up, along with another person. The senator looked at him. “Why did they hit you?”
Johnny briefly described the process of his grievance, and how the manager had threatened to fire him. “I’ve worked at the docks for over a decade. He has no right to fire me when I’ve done nothing wrong!”
Senator Cleveland looked at Edward’s father, who explained, “That manager has been suspended and is in the process of being dismissed.”
He then looked at Johnny. “Johnny, right?”
“Yes, sir.”
“You see, in fact, both sides are constantly pushing these issues forward. The conflict should not have escalated so quickly.”
“It’s just a small misunderstanding!” He made a very small distance with his thumb and forefinger. “That we can sit down and talk now shows that both sides are willing to continue to push forward.”
“You have made your demands, and the dock management company has also given feedback. This is very good.”
“This way, let’s continue to work towards each other and see if we can solve this problem more quickly.”
“You lower your demands a little, don’t ask for such a large reduction in working hours, or find a balance point.”
He then looked at Edward’s father. “And you guys, don’t think you can get away without paying. I’ve looked at it, and you indeed haven’t had a raise for a long time.”
“You should also try to take a few steps forward. Although I haven’t looked at your financial statements, I know that your profits can definitely support these expenditures.”
“The losses caused by the strike these past few days are already enough for you to fulfill these conditions.”
Another rotating director wanted to refute. He had just started to say “Sir,” when Senator Cleveland raised his hand to stop him. “I don’t want to hear this. You go back, have a meeting, and then tell me the result, not try to persuade me, understand?”
He pointed at this person. Seeing the other party close his mouth, he nodded with satisfaction. “See, it’s actually not difficult at all. What we need is understanding and forgiveness.”
He paused, and looked at a man on his right. “Do you have anything to add?”
The person next to him was the general representative of the Federal Federation of Labor General Assembly. He represented the skilled workers of all industries in the entire Federation. Of course, this was the Federation of Labor’s claim.
As for whether he could really speak for the skilled workers of all industries, that was a question for himself and for every person he claimed to represent.
But at this moment, he did indeed represent these people.
“Your arrangements are very appropriate, but I also have some content to add.”
Senator Cleveland tidied the documents on the table with both hands. “Please speak.”
The general representative’s gaze lingered on Johnny and the other worker for a moment, then shifted to the rotating director of the dock management company. “Regardless of whether you ordered it or not, they hit the workers, and that is their fault.”
“The Federation has a complete legal and disciplinary system. Since they have broken the law, they should be severely punished by the law.”
“I hope you can compensate our two worker brothers for their deserved medical expenses, mental distress fees, and so on, and at the same time, send the assailants to be dealt with by the law.”
“We advocate for solving problems rationally, not with fists and clubs!”
“How long has it been since slavery ended? Why does such a vile act as beating workers still exist?”
Seeing his voice getting louder and louder, with an attitude of “if you dare to shake your head, I will push for a strike,” Senator Cleveland quickly said with a smile, “Some people’s ideological level indeed can’t keep up with the development of the times, but most people are still qualified.”
“I believe that after this lesson, the dock management company will definitely be more cautious in its employment.”
“Of course, what the general representative said is also very correct. Compensation should be paid, and legal procedures should be followed. As long as it’s a crime, it cannot be tolerated!”
He then looked at the representative of the Dockworkers’ General Union sitting on the side. “Your dockworkers’ union needs to be a bit busier, play the role of a communication bridge, and strive to help both sides solve the problem as soon as possible. This is what you should be doing most.”
The representatives who were listening showed no reaction, just listened quietly. Senator Cleveland cursed a few times in his heart, but on the surface, he still looked very enthusiastic.
He finally looked at Lance and the others who had not spoken. “Today, we can express any views you want to say here. There are no senators, no workers. We are all citizens of the Federation.”
This sentence made Lance want to laugh. He thought of a joke where someone really believed it, and the outcome was not good.
However, he would not show it. It would make him stand out too much.
But even if he wanted to hide, he might not be able to completely.
“Mr. White,” Senator Cleveland called out a surname. Even Lance didn’t react at first.
The others didn’t react because they were not “Mr. White.” Lance didn’t react because he was rarely addressed this way.
But it was only a matter of a second or two. He nodded slightly. “Your Excellency the Senator.”
“I hear you have given a lot of help to our worker brothers?”
Lance was a little unsure of his meaning. “That’s right, Your Excellency.”
Senator Cleveland nodded slightly. “This negotiation requires the cooperation and promotion of all parties. This is a collaboration.”
“Including you, and all of you…” he looked at the others, “we are all striving towards the same goal. I hope each of us is working hard, not holding others back.”
“If you have any issues, call me. I will not be leaving Golden Port for the time being, until these problems are resolved.”
“Well then…” he looked at the people around him. After they all indicated they had nothing more to say, he said with a smile, “…that’s all for today. We have successfully taken the first step.”
“See you in two days!”
“I hope by then we will already have a perfect solution.”
He finished speaking, packed his things, and stood up. The others followed suit.
In fact, this meeting had only lasted for a dozen minutes, but it had played an undeniable role in promoting the negotiations.
Lance clapped along with everyone else, walking at the back of the crowd, heading outside with the others.
Just as he was about to get in his car and leave, a staff member with a distinctly arrogant attitude came to his side.
This arrogance was well-hidden, probably like a rich city dweller meeting a poor country relative—very enthusiastic, but a false enthusiasm.
He had to pretend not to care about Lance’s status, but he didn’t want to have more contact with him. He didn’t even shake Lance’s hand.
“Mr. Lance, I am Tom from the senator’s office. There are some things I would like to chat with you about for a couple of minutes.”
Lance, who had already opened the car door, turned to look at him. “Of course.”
“Mr. Lance… I’ll call you Lance.”
This was not a question, nor a request; it was a declarative sentence.
Whether Lance agreed or not, he planned to ignore the honorifics or titles.
“Lance, I hear you have a lot of prestige on the docks.”
“And the labor agency you run has many people working at the docks.”
“They are more willing to listen to what you say. Could you see if you can talk to them and have some of the workers return to work first, the part under your control?”
Lance maintained a smile. “Is this your idea, or the senator’s?”
He wanted to reach out and put an arm around Lance, but Lance blocked him.
This made a look of shame and annoyance appear on Tom’s face, but thinking of Senator Cleveland’s attitude towards work, he could only force a smile.
He clapped his hands together in front of him. “Sorry, Lance, maybe my attitude was a bit off.”
“This is my idea. We all hope that order on the docks can be restored more quickly, right?”
Lance nodded slightly. “You’re right, we all hope so.”
This sentence made Tom breathe a slight sigh of relief, but he also felt a little annoyed. He suddenly felt that he was being led by the nose by Lance.
But this was something the senator had asked him to do. If he did it well, it was his duty, his job. He not only got a salary, but also political dividends.
If he did it badly, that was his problem. So he immediately realized that this person was not easy to fool.
“So…” he asked tentatively, but Lance didn’t bite. He could only continue, “Let’s be friends?”
This time, he extended his hand. Lance glanced at his hand and also extended his with a smile. “I will talk to them, but I can’t guarantee what the result of the talk will be.”
Tom nodded repeatedly. He had already begun to restrain his emotions and temper. Traveling around the country with the senator, he had met all kinds of people. He could adjust very quickly, otherwise he wouldn’t have been with the senator for so long.
“This is my temporary phone number in Golden Port…” he gave Lance a card, the kind customized by the hotel.
Like a business card, it had the hotel’s location and room number, as well as the room’s phone number, but the rest was blank.
Some temporary guests might need to work locally for a period of time. They just needed to write their own name on it and could then hand it out.
This avoided the necessity of printing a separate set of business cards, which was not a simple matter in this era.
Of course, these small cards were not free. They charged ten cents for each, and it was up to you whether to use them or not.
Lance glanced at it and put it in his pocket. Actually, compared to Tom’s worthless little card, he was more interested in talking to the senator.
Even if it was just to get acquainted.
But this was obviously very difficult, not realistic.
“Okay.”
The two shook hands again. After Lance got into the car, Tom walked a few steps with him.
When he returned to the hotel, Senator Cleveland happened to have some free time. “Did you talk to him?”
Tom at this moment appeared exceptionally humble, like a docile housecat. His previously stiff eyebrows had softened and drooped. “Yes, I spoke with him. He will try to communicate with those people.”
Senator Cleveland took a puff of his cigarette. “Do you think he’s obedient?”
Tom shook his head. “He’s not very obedient, and he’s a bit different from ordinary people.”
He couldn’t help but laugh as he spoke, recounting what had just happened. Senator Cleveland frowned. “Do you know why I don’t like this era?”
Tom, and the others, all shook their heads. He continued, “Because everyone is questioning authority!”
This is the spirit of the age, the symbol and direction of the times.
If you question authority, your teacher will praise you. Your friends, classmates, will also praise you.
If you challenge “authority,” of course, referring to those fake authorities that are not real authorities, then more people will praise you for having the Federation spirit of freedom, adventure, and challenge.
But young people can’t distinguish between “real authority” and “fake authority,” and that’s where some of the trouble lies.
He quickly moved on from this topic. “That Johnny and the other person at the meeting today, the guy sitting in the second seat to his left…”
“Dave, sir.”
“Yes, Dave. These two frequently looked at Lance. Lance can influence their decisions.”
“Continue to maintain smooth communication with Lance. If there are any problems, contact me in time.”
After giving his instructions, he moved on to the next step of his work.
Not long after Lance’s car left the hotel, Vaughn stood on the roadside and waved at him.
“Pull over.”
The convoy slowly stopped on the side. Vaughn looked at him. “The Federation of Labor and the union are having a meeting. Are you coming with us?”
There was a basis for Lance to go. The Lance White Rating Method had already begun to be piloted in some areas. He could also be considered a semi-member of the Federation of Labor, even though he was not a worker.
Actually, Lance didn’t really want to go. Perhaps seeing the difficult expression on his face, Vaughn said softly, “They might not want to end the strike so quickly.”
This sentence made Lance’s eyebrows shoot up. “What good does it do us to drag out the strike?”
Vaughn shook his head and said, “No good at all, but they want to get some political benefits from this.”
Since the people from the Federation of Labor were here, they definitely had to take a bite out of Congress before they left. The same was true for the other industry unions.
Lance dug his ear and gestured for Vaughn to get in the car. “Ride with me.”
(End of chapter)