1910 is not 2010. All countries in the world are very tough on workers’ strikes.
In 1914, workers in Colorado went on strike. Capitalists, including Rockefeller, sent troops to suppress the strike, using heavy weapons including armored vehicles and heavy machine guns. As a result, more than 200 workers died.
In 1926, the British Trades Union Congress declared a national strike due to the issue of miners' wages. Winston, who was then Chancellor of the Exchequer, took a tough stance during the strike and suggested that the army use machine guns to disperse the striking miners.
The day after Stoudemire returned to Johannesburg, he held a meeting to discuss how to deal with the strike at the Marcellus gold mine.
Roque did not attend the meeting. After the meeting, Stoudemire came to Roque and Marcus Beaufort, hoping that the Johannesburg city government would take more into account the suggestions of the Mining Alliance management when handling the strike.
"We cannot compromise. Although the demands of those Africans are not high, if we compromise this time, there will be endless troubles -" Stoudemire's attitude was firm. The mining alliance is the largest source of tax revenue for the Johannesburg city government and even the federal government.
Their suggestions must be taken seriously.
This time, the requirements of the miners are actually not high. Their initial request was just to improve their living standards. They should not only eat potatoes every day, but also have some meat from time to time like the Rock Gold Mine. After all, mining is an industry with very heavy physical labor.
Without enough nutrition, it is indeed impossible to support high-intensity labor.
Out of the consistent virtue of the French, the management of the Marcellus Gold Mine agreed to the miners' request and even gave the miners more benefits on this basis, including adding meals once a week and giving the miners more rest time.
You can take half a day off every week, etc.
Human greed is unlimited, and Africans are indeed very good at pushing their limits. Soon they had more demands, including improved working and living conditions, higher salary levels, the same paid vacations as white people, and the occurrence of mining accidents.
After that, you can get the same pension as white people.
Only then did the management of the Marcellus Gold Mine discover that they had opened a Pandora's box. The development of things was no longer under their control, and the strike finally turned into a riot.
"If it were just the Marcellus gold mine, then it would be simple to meet their demands. The problem is that there are 37 gold mines in Johannesburg. If we compromise and miners from other gold mines demand the same treatment, what will we do? What if those greedy people in the future
What should we do if Africans have other demands? We invested in the mines, purchased the machines, and hired them to work. If they feel that the treatment is too bad, they can refuse to accept it and incite others to use threats to force us to submit.
It is a crime to try to get the part that does not belong to them, and we must not compromise." Stoudemire was categorical, more considering the lesson of past mistakes and avoiding future ones.
"If the problem can be solved peacefully, it is best not to shed blood." Marcus Beaufort also knows that there are endless consequences, but as the mayor of Johannesburg, Marcus Beaufort has more to consider.
The use of force to suppress this kind of thing will definitely have a bad impact if word spreads. Southern Africa is not monolithic now. There are many reporters in Johannesburg, not only from The Times, but also from Orange. p>
Those reporters in Orange are eager for the military and police to use coercive measures.
"The Mining Union has a very firm attitude towards this matter. We are opposed to any form of compromise and hope that the municipal government can fully consider the interests of the mine owners. We have raised 180,000 rand for the aftermath, except for Marcellus
In addition to the gold mines, each gold mine is worth 5,000 rand. This is just the first payment. If the money is not enough, you can continue to raise money." Stoudemire is indeed very wealthy, and he just throws money at it.
This 180,000 yuan is definitely not used for post-event compensation. If coercive measures are used, even if the striking workers are injured or killed, according to the habits of the Johannesburg mines, even if they are compensated, they will not be able to use up so much. This money is for the military and Johannesburg.
As for how Rock and Marcus Beaufort will distribute the remuneration from the city government, Stoudemire will not interfere.
"Why should the Marcellus Gold Mine be excluded?" Rock was curious, not knowing what the Mining Alliance could achieve.
"The performance of the Marcellus Gold Mine this time is very disappointing. We have decided to expel the Marcellus Gold Mine from the Mining Alliance and auction the mine to compensate for the losses caused to the Mining Alliance. This
It's our collective decision." Stoudemire has a good reason. Don't the French like to vote? Then use voting to drive the French out of the Mining Union.
"If we take tough measures, Aiden's safety may not be guaranteed." Rock said the ugly story ahead.
"If possible, of course I hope to rescue Aiden first and then take action, but if not, I will give Aiden's family a large pension." Stoudemire is really ruthless and has gradually become a
A qualified capitalist.
Rock nodded, having already mentioned this, Rock naturally chose to maintain the Mining Alliance. After all, Rock Gold Mine is also a member of the Mining Alliance.
Of course, if this kind of thing happened in a mine dominated by Chinese workers, Rock would definitely not handle it this way.
Ah, this kind of thing will never happen in a mine dominated by Chinese workers.
Looking back, Rock had to further communicate with Stoudemire: "How to deal with those smuggled mines?"
"What else can we do? The industry should correct itself. Ten years have passed since the Boer War. At first, the ownership of these mines was still relatively casual. You can buy a good mine for just a few thousand pounds. Now the federal government
The government has stabilized, and the Rand mining area should better serve the federal government. These mines have been dug for more than ten years and have not been completed. Those mine owners have already recovered their costs. Some of them even live abroad. They are not in the south at all.
There are more and more Africans who have opinions about the Rand Mining District, and we always have to consider the opinions of the majority of people." Xiaosi said a lot, but in fact there is only one central idea, the Rand Mining District is also going to change.
.
Rock nodded speechlessly, recalling that back then, Henry bought the Matilda Gold Mine for only 1,500 pounds. Although the Matilda Gold Mine was not considered a rich mine in the Rand mining area, over the years, the Matilda Gold Mine was dug out.
The amount of gold is more than 500,000 yuan, and the same is true for other gold mines. When Rock bought the Rock Gold Mine, it was calculated on a square kilometer basis, and the price was almost free. How much gold has been dug out of the Rock Gold Mine over the years?
A whole Rand Bank!
It has been nearly ten years since the end of the Boer War. In order to restore gold production in Johannesburg as soon as possible, the Transvaal Governor-General sold most of the gold mines at prices that were almost free, giving a free advantage to the speculative capitalists. Now in southern Africa,
On the contrary, people with real power did not get any benefits. This situation must change. Sidney Milner, Marcus Beaufort, and even Owen, these new rich people in southern Africa are eyeing the gold mines of Johannesburg, but some
The owner of the gold mine is still actively seeking death.
I’m really tired of living.
"I am collecting information on the Anglo-American Mining Company here. After the next collective meeting of the Mining Alliance, I will force them to transfer the mine. However, this work requires the cooperation of the Johannesburg city government and the federal government. After all, the Anglo-American Mining Company also has a background
"Xiaosi knows the importance. Forget about those mine owners without background. Mine owners with background should still be careful. When beating a dog, it depends on the owner.
"Don't worry about the background of the British and American mining companies. If you have any questions, please communicate with Lord Beiyan. The Times is a good tool. We must make full use of it." Rock is insidious. What the British aristocrats cherish most is risk assessment. What do you really want?
When the Times reported the matter, it didn’t even require the federal government to come forward. Congressional inquiries were enough for the big shots to drink.
That night, good news finally came from the Marcellus Gold Mine. The striking miners agreed to Rock's request and decided to send representatives to the Johannesburg City Hall for negotiations.
So a negotiation team including Rock, Stoudemire, Sidney Milner, Marcus Beaufort and Sam was immediately formed.
Sam was a lawyer before becoming the general manager of the umbrella company, so he had the opportunity to join the negotiation team.
What Rock didn't expect was that Stoudemire, Sidney Milner, and Marcus Beaufort, among others, strongly opposed Rock's joining the negotiating team.
The reason is very simple. Roque is the Viscount of Nyasaland, and is also the deputy minister of defense and deputy minister of justice of the federal government. There is no need for Roque to directly participate in negotiations of this level, and he cannot afford to lose that person.
Even according to Stoudemire's intention, even negotiations are unnecessary. It is best for Rock to directly order the troops to attack, so as to show the toughness of the military.
In any case, at 8 a.m. on August 3, the negotiations were held as scheduled at the Johannesburg City Hall.
Rock chose to attend and was able to attend.
It is said to be a negotiation, but the format is no different from a normal court trial. Sidney Milner, Marcus Beaufort, Stoudemire, and Sam are sitting on the rostrum, with the record table and Rock's seats on both sides. The miners
There is no fixed seat for the representatives, only a chair is placed opposite the rostrum. Only one miner representative can speak at a time, and the others must stand in the corner ten meters away from the rostrum.
This arrangement was very symbolic, but even the miners' representatives who participated in the negotiations did not feel anything was wrong, so the negotiations began in an extremely strange atmosphere.
"——Gentlemen, we ask for an increase in our salary from the current penny to a shilling——" More was very domineering when he was in the Marcellus gold mine. When he arrived at this court-like occasion, he
Steamed fish feels the majesty of the official.
"Weekly salary or monthly salary?" Sam didn't give Moore much time. As soon as Moir started speaking, he was interrupted by Sam.
"Daily salary!" Moore was sweating profusely.
Really, if this is a weekly salary, how can the miners survive?