Siheyuan: Starting from 1958

Seeing his wife at a loss for what he had suggested, her brows furrowing deeper and deeper, Wang Dong decisively spoke up: "Wife... there is a way..."

"One of the main reasons why those people are willing to stay in the steel rolling mill and not go out to try their luck is that the work in the steel rolling mill is too easy and the wages they receive are too easy to earn."

"If they were to put in the labor that would earn them four or five yuan a day, but only receive two or three yuan in wages, do you think they would continue to stay in the steel rolling mill?"

"besides……"

"The steel rolling mill is a state-owned enterprise, and its management system is too lax..."

“If we manage employees according to the management system of private enterprises, we will require all workers to arrive and leave work on time and not be late or leave early, otherwise their already meager wages will be deducted.”

"After this series of coordinated measures, many workers who wanted to coast along in the steel rolling mill will definitely resign because they can't stand the mill's strict management system..."

"The high-intensity work drives away some workers, and the strict management system drives away another group of workers. It is possible that the number of workers in the steel rolling mill will drop to three thousand."

"Of course, the steel rolling mill should try to retain those older employees who are capable, skilled, and hardworking, even if it means raising their wages or giving them subsidies privately."

"After all, we will need those veteran employees and technicians to help us oversee things when we take over the steel rolling mill in the future."

"Instead of spending high prices to poach people from outside back then, it's better to keep them in the steel rolling mill now."

"I believe the steel mill leaders also don't want those people to leave, otherwise the steel mill's only talent and the people who actually do the work will be gone."

…………

Workshop 1 of Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill.

The large workshop, which once had more than 100 people, now has only more than 70 left. Even so, only more than 40 of these 70 are actually working. The remaining 30 or so are just loafing around in the workshop, which makes the workshop director frown, but there is nothing he can do.

They were all seasoned veterans in the factory, and since there wasn't much for them to do in the workshop, the director could only turn a blind eye.

"Director... It's my dad's birthday tonight, and I'd like to leave work early to go home and celebrate with him..." A rather unlikable old hand suddenly walked up to the director and said.

The director was about to nod in agreement.

Anyway, there's nothing much going on in the workshop. Rather than letting them make a racket at their workstations and ruin my mood, I might as well let them go.

This way, at least it won't affect the workers who are working in the workshop.

Moreover……

Because there are few production tasks, many people in the workshop are late or leave early. It's already quite a favor that the other party comes over to say hello.

Just as the director was about to nod in agreement, the familiar broadcast suddenly rang out in the workshop.

"Notification, notification..."

"After deliberation by the factory leadership, it has been decided that, starting today, a strict crackdown will be implemented on tardiness and early departures. For each instance of tardiness or early departure, 50 cents will be deducted from wages..."

"Three inspection teams composed of factory leaders will conduct unscheduled inspections of each workshop. Workshop directors are required to strictly enforce workshop discipline. No one is allowed to be late or leave early without a valid reason."

"If you have to be late or leave early, you must write a leave request in advance and ask the workshop director for approval."

The worker who wanted to ask for leave immediately showed an embarrassed expression.

He was incredibly unlucky. He was just about to leave work early when the factory issued a notice about strictly checking attendance. Anyone who didn't know better would think the notice was specifically targeting him. The foreman frowned, wondering why the factory was suddenly cracking down on attendance and forbidding workers from being late or leaving early, but the factory's rules and regulations had to be followed.

He could only manage a wry smile and say to the worker in front of him, "It's not that I don't want you to go home..."

"It's just a factory regulation..."

"To avoid getting fined, I'd better stay until after get off work before going home..."

The group of people who were slacking off in the workshop suddenly became lively, discussing why the factory had suddenly started strictly checking attendance, their faces full of dissatisfaction.

One important reason why many people stay in the steel rolling mill and refuse to leave is that the rules there are not very strict.

Although my salary is a bit low, my job is easy, and many days I have nothing to do all day.

If anything happens at home, I can just tell my boss and leave.

If the factory strictly checks attendance in the future, they won't be able to go home whenever they want or take leave whenever they want, as before. They will have to stay in the factory for eight or nine hours every day, but the wages they earn will be pitifully small.

Working the same amount of time outside, as long as you're not too lazy, you can earn more money than the wages paid by the steel rolling mill.

If the steel rolling mill continues to enforce such a strict attendance system, not allowing anyone to be late or leave early, then there's really no point in staying at the steel rolling mill anymore, even if it's a secure job.

As the discussion continued, many people showed expressions of struggle on their faces.

Just then, a new announcement came over the loudspeaker: "Announcement... Announcement..."

"Now broadcasting the factory leadership's latest decision..."

"In order to reduce expenses and increase the revenue of the steel rolling mill, starting tomorrow, all skilled workers below level three in each workshop, as well as regular workers and apprentices, will gather at the warehouse in their respective workshops to perform handling work."

"The factory leadership will inform all workshop directors of the specific arrangements before the end of the workday today..."

There are nearly forty skilled workers below level three in Workshop 1, including full-time employees and apprentices. When they heard the notice that the factory wanted them to work as warehouse movers the next day, they immediately refused.

Their wages in the factory were already very low, and it was acceptable for them to just coast along in the workshop every day.

If you're going to be reporting to the warehouse all day long and working as a mover, you might as well find a better-paying job outside.

Several employees who were usually the best at slacking off in the workshop were the first to stand up: "Boss... why are we being made to be porters..."

“We’re fitters, regular workers in the workshop, not porters. Why should we go… I’m not going…”

"I'm not going either... Anyone who wants to go can go by themselves, just don't call me..." Several workers shouted.

It was only then that the workshop director gradually understood why the factory had suddenly issued those two comrades a notice.

He knew that the factory wanted to lay off workers, but the workers in the workshop all had secure jobs. As long as they didn't violate factory rules and regulations, they didn't want to leave, and even if he was the workshop director, he couldn't do anything about it.

The factory had tried everything to get everyone to resign voluntarily, but all their efforts were in vain.

The notice just now was probably a last resort for the factory leaders.

Since those who are slacking off in the factory don't want to resign voluntarily, then we'll force them out with strict rules and regulations and heavy workloads. (End of Chapter)