Chongzhen revived the Ming Dynasty

Wusong River is the channel for Taihu Lake to flow into the sea, also known as Wujiang or Songjiang.

This river connects to Taihu Lake in the west and the sea in the east, with a constant flow of ships, making it an important commercial route.

However, in the autumn of the third year of Chongzhen, the Wusong River passage was almost completely cut off.

Because Zhang Pu organized boatmen and laborers to participate in the strike.

As a result, there was no one to operate the boats on the river, and no one to unload the cargo, so that the ships on the Wusong River were blocked for several miles.

A group of businessmen were so anxious that they were fuming. When they learned that it was Zhang Pu who led the Employees Association who was responsible, they sent people to report to the authorities while negotiating with Zhang Pu.

Zhang Pu took out the "Hire Workers' Declaration" and the letter of commitment and said:
"As long as you promise to abide by these, the Hired Workers Association will immediately send someone to help you unload the goods."

"Otherwise, there's no point in discussing this matter. Just do the work yourself."

Let these people read the terms of the declaration and the pledge carefully, and then talk about it after they promise to do it.

There is nothing much to say about the content of the declaration. Although some businessmen sneer at employees who want to seek equal rights with them, they will not show it at this critical juncture.

However, the terms in the letter of commitment, such as freeing slaves, respecting hired workers, implementing an eight-hour work system, a technical grade wage system, and a lifetime employment system, made them frown.

A businessman shouted:

"Whether I am released or not is my own business."

"Why do you have such wide purview?"

Zhang Pu knocked on the etiquette and law on the table and warned bluntly:
"What is your business?"

"Do you hold an official position or a title? How many slaves can you keep?"

"I'm telling you, if you don't release this slave, you're breaking the law. You're enslaving a good person!"

After hearing Zhang Pu's warning, this person quickly remembered that Zhang Pu had been making a fuss for several months just to release the slaves.

The newspapers had already made it clear what laws privately using slaves violated, and as he felt he was in the wrong, he could only keep silent.

After hearing what Zhang Pu said, other merchants who wanted to keep slaves working did not argue with him anymore, although they did not necessarily agree with it.

A businessman named Li who looked quite polite said:

"Respecting employees is something I can do."

"But the eight-hour workday is too short, isn't it?"

"The workers want to work more and earn more money, but your employment association won't allow it?"

Zhang Pu took out the detailed provisions and said:
"Look carefully, it's not that you can only work eight hours a day. It's that the daily working hours are based on eight hours."

"Overtime pay will be paid at the hourly rate if the hours exceed eight. Overtime pay will be doubled if the hours exceed ten, and doubled again if the hours exceed twelve. Over fourteen hours is not allowed, and a fine will be imposed if found."

"Can you understand this clause, brother?"

Merchant Li took the detailed provisions and looked at them carefully, and found that they were very detailed.

Not only are there requirements for an eight-hour work system and overtime, but there are also requirements for continuous working hours, maximum working hours per ten days, month, and year. If the hours are exceeded, the worker can go on strike or even apply for arbitration.

Especially for laborers, miners and other industries that engage in heavy physical labor, the eight-hour work system must be strictly implemented and subsidies must be issued.

This made him frown, and he felt that if he really put it into practice, the money he earned would be greatly reduced.

At the same time, some people asked about the technical grade wage system, asking:

"What is this technical level?"

“Why should we pay wages based on it?”

Zhang Pu looked at him in surprise and said in a quiet voice:

"My friend, you are so out of touch with the news!"

"Don't you know that the emperor has divided the army into nine levels, nine levels of clerks, and nine levels of craftsmen?"

"Now in Beijing, everyone pays their wages based on this."

Take out a table and show it to this person with the corresponding salary for each level.

This salary table was basically based on the salary of officials. The salary of a ninth-grade craftsman was equivalent to that of a ninth-grade official, except that the stone was replaced by yuan, and the annual salary was set at 60 yuan.

Therefore, the monthly salary of a ninth-level craftsman is five yuan, and then it decreases by five cents for each level... When it comes to a first-level craftsman, the monthly salary is only one yuan.

Apprentices earn even less, with monthly wages ranging from only five to eighty cents.

In Zhang Pu's opinion, this was already very low. Many little maids in wealthy families earned 500 coins a month, which was very close to the monthly salary of an apprentice.

As long as the employer is willing to make a small concession, he will agree to this clause.

However, these businessmen scoffed at this.

Because in their opinion, apprentices should not be paid.

Not to mention the ninth-level craftsman, who needs to be paid 60 yuan per year.

Someone questioned on the spot:

"You said skill level. What skills are needed to move goods at the dock?"

"I don't care who I ask to move. Why should I charge so much?"

Before Zhang Pu could say anything, a laborer next to him retorted:
"You've never moved goods before, have you?"

"Can the requirements for moving grain and moving porcelain be the same?"

"Some people can move things quickly and well, so why can't they get higher wages?"

Other laborers also talked about it, believing that they also had different levels of technical skills.

Zhang Pu finally said:
"Labor work is considered simple. Levels one, two and three are entry-level workers. It mainly depends on experience. The association is responsible for training."

"Only when you understand manual labor skills, can identify goods, use tools, and skillfully load them onto ships and trucks, can you be promoted to level four."

"Levels 4, 5 and 6 are intermediate workers. Not only can they carry the goods themselves, but they must also be able to take apprentices and train apprentices to a certain level."

"Grade 7, 8 and 9 senior workers are not rated by the employment association themselves, but also need to be recognized by the engineers association. They usually need to be literate and can organize people to move goods and do a good job of counting goods."

"Do you think it's too much to pay a few dozen yuan a year to someone who can do this?"

"With this ability, where can they not earn a few dozen yuan?"

The surrounding laborers applauded in support, dreaming of being able to be promoted step by step and become senior craftsmen.

It can be said that the path pointed out by Zhang Pu is the reason why many of them joined the Employees Association.

Who wants to just get by day by day instead of making more money?

Some businessmen nodded in agreement, while others still felt that the salary was too high.

Li Shangren deliberately made it difficult for him to do so:
"Mr. Zhang is right, but if I pay such high wages to laborers, I will have to hire fewer people."

"I can't afford to hire senior workers yet, so I can only hire a few junior workers."

"What will happen if the other workers lose their livelihoods?"

The laborers were a little nervous, worried about losing their jobs. Zhang Pu laughed and said:
"Our employment association will take care of the livelihood, so don't worry about it, Brother Li."

"We are all strong, how can we starve to death?"

"At worst, the workers' association can organize immigrants to go overseas to farm together."

Everyone laughed when they heard this, and felt that it was not bad to farm overseas. In fact, many tenant farmers joined the Hirelings Association because of Zhang Pu's promise of overseas land distribution.

Of course, if you can avoid going, you should not go. After all, overseas is remote and many people will die on the way.

But there is no need to elaborate on this with the merchants. Now the hired workers are united in suppressing the arrogance of the hired workers.

The biggest slogan of the workers' association was unity. Zhang Pu led them to sing "Unity is Strength" every day to encourage them to persevere.

Relying on the support of hired workers, Zhang Pu was full of confidence.

The businessman who was negotiating with him frowned repeatedly.

In the past, they could do whatever they wanted to these landless laborers.

But now it is no longer possible. The emperor distributes land to every military or civilian household going overseas.

Moreover, the conditions offered by vassal states such as the Kingdom of Jingjiang and the Principality of Jiangling are even better, and they have been recruiting immigrants in Jiangnan these days.

The Hiring Association could help these vassal states organize personnel, and those vassal states must have welcomed it. Maybe Zhang Pu had already reached an agreement with them privately. So threatening the workers would not work, and these businessmen could only soften their attitude and continue to negotiate.

Li Shangren pondered the news he had heard and said to Zhang Pu:

"Mr. Zhang, can the salary for this level you mentioned be discounted?"

"As far as I know, the salaries of officials and craftsmen in the capital are not completely based on this standard, but a certain discount can be made when the silver dollars are issued."

Zhang Pu took a look at Li Shangren and was impressed by this man:
Not only is he able to know the news from the capital, but he can also bring it out for negotiation. He can already be considered a talent.

Gently waving his folding fan, Zhang Pu said calmly:
"Of course we can give discounts, but they must be based on level."

"For example, if the same 20% discount is applied, the monthly salary of a first-level worker will be reduced to 80 cents, and the monthly salary of a ninth-level worker will be reduced to 4 yuan."

"You can't have two discounts for the same type of work, and their skill level must be respected."

"Employers and employers who violate the technical grade wage system will be blacklisted by the employment association."

“If you want to find a job with a reduced salary, you must first downgrade in the employment association.”

After these words came out, many businessmen nodded secretly. They felt that the conditions were not so harsh and they could hire more workers.

Even if the salary of senior workers is high, so what? They can give discounts and just pay that much. Or they can use work pressure to force some people to be demoted.

Just when some people were thinking of giving a 10% discount, Zhang Pu told him that this idea was not feasible:
“The discount is as low as 50% and is divided into different types of work and industries.”

"Specifically, which industry will have its salary discount discussed with the corresponding association and a rule will be set."

"The minimum monthly salary for a first-class worker is 50 cents. This is the minimum wage standard."

The merchants objected to this, thinking that the 50% discount was still too high. Merchant Li said:

"50% off is still too high, how about 70% off?"

"The minimum three dollars a month is enough for them to have enough food."

Zhang Pu and a group of workers shook their heads and disagreed.

For a laborer with a big appetite, three cents is not enough to feed one person.

After a lot of tug-of-war, both parties decided to set the discount at 40% regardless of whether it was Geely or not.

The minimum wage for first-class workers was set at four corners.

Apprentices also receive a 40% discount, with the lowest being 20 cents, but will increase by at least 5 cents every year, and the maximum apprenticeship period is four years.

If the apprentice is of age, he or she can take part in grading assessment every year. When he or she reaches level one, his or her apprenticeship period will end and he or she will be treated as a level one worker.

Zhang Pu also said to them:
"As for apprenticeships, only those over 12 years old can be recruited. Those under 12 years old are considered child laborers and are prohibited from working."

"Our employers' association has a special apprentices' association that is specifically responsible for protecting the rights and interests of apprentices."

"There is also the Queen's Maternal and Child Health Association, which will also supervise these."

"You must remember that child labor is not allowed. Minor apprentices are not allowed to engage in heavy physical labor. They must study and work half of the day. In particular, working hours must not exceed four hours. The total time of work and study must not exceed eight hours."

"Those who recruit underage apprentices must proactively report and accept supervision, otherwise they will be charged with trafficking in minors."

This made the merchants frown, feeling that the regulations were too strict. Someone said:

"Some people have only children who can work at home. We can't just let them wait to die, right?"

"Banning child labor is so inhumane. Isn't it going to drive people to death?"

Even some workers think this rule is too harsh and they want their children to help the family as early as possible.

But Zhang Pu said:
"Love your own children as well as other people's children. In a world of great harmony, there can be no child labor. Banning child labor cannot be changed!"

"For children who want to earn money, the Newspaper Association and the Maternal and Child Health Association will set up work-study schools and introduce them to jobs."

"Anyway, forget it. We can't let some people exhaust children to death."

Because of his childhood experiences, Zhang Pu knew how evil some people could be. He fully agreed with the emperor and empress's decision and incorporated it into the charter of the employees' association.

From now on, the only jobs children can do are simple jobs like selling newspapers and performing, and they have to be supervised.

After listening to Zhang Pu's explanation, most of the workers gave up the idea of ​​letting children work.

The businessmen were somewhat indignant and felt that the regulation was too strict.

Some even asked:
"Then the little girl can't be used anymore?"

"Do we still need to offer them up as sacrifices?"

Zhang Pu looked indifferent and said:
"It's not impossible if you want to use them. Just use slaves from other races."

"But citizens and minors of the Ming Dynasty are all protected."

"If you want to do evil, don't let yourself be discovered, or you'll be stripped of your citizenship and exiled overseas."

This made many businessmen feel alarmed and alert.

The current emperor is benevolent and righteous, and seldom orders killings.

However, they are very enthusiastic about developing overseas and often exile criminals overseas.

If they were exiled overseas and deprived of their Ming citizenship at the same time, wouldn't they be the same as the natives of other ethnic groups?

There is a real possibility that you will become a slave and be sold back.

Some people thought of the people who were exiled when the red-light district was established, and they were warned and kept this point in mind.

Then there is the last one, the lifetime employment system. Zhang Pu said:

"The maximum duration of a single contract is ten years. For employees who have a contract of more than ten years, or have worked continuously for ten years and have signed two or more contracts, they must sign an open-ended employment contract, or a lifetime employment contract."

“A lifetime employment contract cannot be terminated without the employee’s consent. And after the employee agrees, a termination fee must be paid under the supervision of the employee association.”

"The employer can unilaterally terminate the contract. The termination fee shall not exceed the labor remuneration received by the employee."

This clause was undoubtedly supported by the workers, but was generally dissatisfied by the businessmen.

Merchant Li said:

“Why do employees have the right to unilaterally terminate their contracts, but employers do not?”

"Do you think this article has equal rights and responsibilities?"

The businessmen echoed and demanded an explanation.

Zhang Pu said calmly:
"The reason for this regulation is, of course, that employees are in a weak position relative to employers."

"If you employers want to get rid of someone, there are countless ways to force the employee to leave."

“So we must give employees this power so that their jobs are protected.”

Merchant Li said sarcastically:
“The employees are protected, but what about the employers?”

"Lifetime employment contract? Are we going to have to support our employees for the rest of their lives?"

Zhang Pu laughed and said:

"You're right. You really have to raise it for a lifetime."

"Pension insurance is mandatory, and if you sign a lifetime employment contract, you must also negotiate pension issues according to the requirements of the employment association."

"Look at the slaves who are being freed now. How many are too old to move?"

"How can you be so cruel to throw them out like this!"

As he said this angrily, Zhang Pu really wanted to curse someone.

"Respect the old and the young, not only your own but also others'," this is the principle taught by sages.

However, some people read the books of sages but have forgotten all the teachings of sages. When the slaves were released this time, the first to be released were the old people who had served them all their lives and were now unable to work.

The biggest expense of the employment association was also to support these elderly people. The employment association he founded almost became a poorhouse, solving the problem of elderly care for those wealthy families.

Many slaves and hired workers, having seen their fate, joined the strike despite their employers' attempts to retain them.

It can be said that the conflicts between employees and employers in Suzhou are now unprecedentedly acute.

Zhang Pu added the lifetime employment system to the requirements in order to solve the livelihood problem of employees when they get old. (End of this chapter)