It’s not uncommon for workers to slack off in the Federation; many factory workers habitually do so, and the situation in the Federation is even more complex.
With the protection of various laws and the backing of the Workers’ Union, even if capitalists know that workers are slacking, there aren’t many good ways to resolve it.
If capitalists push too hard, workers might strike, protest, or even have the Workers’ Union’s lawyers sue capitalists for exploiting and oppressing the human need for rest, forcing workers into intense labor without sufficient breaks.
Just this one issue can cost capitalists a significant amount of money, with various litigation costs and lawyers’ fees becoming a big burden.
If capitalists win, the involved worker apologizes and resigns, causing no loss to the worker, but capitalists suffer a substantial financial loss.
But if the worker wins, it leads to headache-inducing negotiations between capitalists and the Workers’ Union, where the Union will demand the capitalists improve workers’ benefits and increase their rest time to ease so-called labor relations tensions.
This can cost a lot of interests, and whether they win or lose, it’s hard for capitalists to benefit, so most of the time, as long as the workers’ slacking is not too excessive or serious, they turn a blind eye.
Nell is considered half a capitalist. The reason for being only half is that he is still in a semi-understanding state and hasn’t grasped the essence of capitalists.
Thinking of this, Lynch decided to give Nell a lesson. He took out a cigarette, lit it, crossed his legs, placed one hand on his leg, and the other on the edge of the table, "Nell, do you know what’s the most prominent feature in the struggle between the working class and capitalists?"
After asking, he probably felt that what he said was a bit too vague and explained in detail, "What I mean is, do you know how the working class effectively resists capitalist oppression and exploitation, and how capitalists disintegrate this resistance?"
Nell thought seriously for a moment and finally shook his head. Education and experience constrained him. He had been a worker, but he couldn’t feel the kind of resistance Lynch talked about, "I’m not very clear."
Lynch was not surprised and smiled, "Workers resist capitalists through solidarity, while capitalists only need to introduce some internal competition among workers to achieve their purpose of dividing them." Tʜe source of this ᴄontent ɪs novel★fire.net
"You might not feel it, but this form of resistance has always existed, even now."
"Among the many tasks of the Workers’ Union, an important one is uniting workers. They establish organizational branches in each factory to unite workers, forming a force capable of resisting capitalists. You were once a Union member, so you should understand this better than me."
Some things, when not explicitly stated, can’t be grasped even if there’s only a thin veil of paper.
With Lynch’s words, Nell suddenly realized, and his expression was somewhat surprised, like a nose blocked for three days suddenly clearing up, allowing a sudden flash of insight to shoot straight to his mind.
Back then, the factory would frequently organize collective activities, and now thinking about it, wasn’t that emphasizing the role of "solidarity" in worker organization?
Workers would participate together, showcasing the strength of "solidarity," forcing capitalists to make concessions, like allowing a half-day leave for Union activities, and eventually, even with a black face, capitalists conceded.
But... he looked at Lynch, feeling something special, realizing that this knowledge was crucial for him.
This is the benefit of money. Money allows people to handle some issues calmly rather than sensitively. If the two were very poor at this moment, discussing this issue, Nell might think Lynch was provoking and humiliating him.
But since they both have plenty of money, they can naturally face these potentially embarrassing issues calmly.
Poor people tend to avoid discussing their difficult and impoverished lives, while the rich are happy to talk about their past poverty. The difference in wealth leads to a difference in mindset.
Lynch took a drag of his cigarette and continued, "Capitalists spent a long time exploring ways to deal with these united workers and found a very effective method: group-based competition."
If Nell’s nose cleared earlier, now it was completely free, with a chill making his mind incredibly clear in an instant!
Lynch’s words weren’t finished, "Facing united enemies..." he chuckled, "I might be using the term incorrectly. If you were to speak, it’s best not to use it. Faced with these united working classes, the simplest method is to divide them."
"But capitalists can’t be so blatant, so they came up with a method: dividing workers into groups based on workshops or assembly lines and designating a reward system without penalties to stimulate competition among groups①."
"This system is grossly unfair, but the glory and substantial rewards entice people from every group to strive for first place."
"At first, people’s reactions may not be intense, but over time, their mentalities change, and soon the sense of competition among them strengthens, achieving the purpose of dividing them."
"Between workers, there’s no need for any additional means to create antagonism, even hatred, among them. Capitalists just need to periodically provide some glory and benefits, and united workers will end up fighting viciously among themselves."
"If you notice this point, you should realize that competition is everywhere."
Nell instinctively nodded. In his previous workshop, there was this kind of competition: the factory owner proposed awarding extra bonuses to the highest-producing workshop but did not penalize the others.
This kind of competition, with no punishment system, kept the competition among workshops in the factory at a fever pitch year-round.
Even during Workers’ Union activities, people would hardly speak. Now he suddenly thought there were times when reports were likely made by people from other groups.
This exclusionary effect developed to such an extent that during a wave of closures, many workers couldn’t unify their opinions, leading to many subsequent incidents...
At this moment, he suddenly realized, "You want me to do the same here, divide those people outside and increase their internal competitiveness?"
Lynch nodded, "It’s an easy task, but their level of civilization doesn’t meet the Federation’s minimum standards, so we need to provide them with additional motivation."
"Divide them into at least three groups, and at each cycle’s end, take part of the lowest-ranked team’s salary as a reward for the first place, and deduct a portion from the second place’s salary to go into a bonus pool."
"Outside of the small cycles, use a large cycle. If you’ve seen rugby leagues..." Lynch spoke as Nell nodded repeatedly as he liked rugby, "...then you must understand the points system."
"The salary deducted from the second place should be distributed as a lump sum to the first place group in a large cycle. This rouses everyone’s competitive consciousness and anger, so they work hard without you urging them."
"Of course, to avoid someone deliberately dragging others down, give each group a nomination opportunity at the end of each small cycle to expel those whom more than half vote against..."
By this point, Lynch had a somewhat inflammatory smile, and he licked his lips. This plan is actually an improved version designed to expand internal competitiveness.
Apart from the first place, everyone else suffers; only the first place benefits, and everyone’s interests are implicated, including the second place, without exception.
Why not divide the workers into two groups since complete opposition might lead to tacitly rotating shifts?
One group’s first in this cycle, the other group’s first in the second cycle, so to control the number of beneficiaries, the advantaged parties must only encompass a minority, providing those whose interests are harmed with a chance to change the situation, leading them into vicious internal strife.
Nell was still thinking seriously, but the deputy manager already showed a sudden understanding. He glanced over, and the deputy manager hurriedly smiled and lowered his head, eyes full of admiration and some fear.
Neither of them actually knows that the first to be harmed by this division method through internal competitiveness among worker groups is the capitalists themselves.
Disorderly internal industry competition leaves every capitalist in misery, causing them to propose various industry standard regulations to restrict each other’s disorderly and chaotic competitive actions.
Capitalists can do this because some among them hold the power of speech, such as large conglomerates; they are both "workers" and "bosses," so capitalists can change this situation.
The working class differs because they are only "workers" and will always only be "workers," never "bosses," so they cannot replace capitalists to draft orderly regulations for factory and worker group competition.
As long as workers cannot truly replace capitalists to manage and make decisions, they can’t avoid a divided fate.
Capitalist society and capitalism have developed for how many years, and labor-capital conflicts have lasted just as long. As a result, today’s Federation has far more capitalist experience than other countries, which was of immense importance in the early stages of international society’s development.
A few minutes later, Nell seemed to have completely figured it out, his expression tinged with exaggerated excitement and quirkiness, "You guys really are something else!"
This statement was made from a worker’s standpoint because he used to be a worker.
Lynch smiled silently, and Nell quickly followed up with the latter part, "But it’s very effective!"
This is at least a hundred years of leading experience!
①, No deduction to avoid involving hourly wage laws and the Labor Protection Bill.