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Organize before they Rise
Topic Started: Sep 10 2011, 05:49 PM (290 Views)
Epsilon
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Gorkem Oth wiped sweat from his brow with a handkerchief he kept in his pocket. The television had been broadcasting the Graan's announcement all day: Embassies were open. hm! The statement included much talk of trade and prosperity. One would think, with the talk of Globalization and all, that it was impossible for a state to be self sufficient these days. How had the Graanid managed for the previous thousand years? Was it not through self reliance, and with respect to the Gods, that the Sonemen had prospered?

"I don't like what i'm hearing." He said thickly to his counterparts in the room, Lander Chemmel and Korel Smith.

Korel was slight, thin, and had the look that the slightest perforation would cause his bones to burst forth from beneath his flesh. His hair was grey and he had eyes to match, and he was the darkly brilliant head of the Rhean branch of the Port Laborers Association. When he spoke, his teeth seemed as if they were too big for his mouth, and his rich, deep voice did not seem to match his looks: "The Graan is looking to circumvent domestic labor. There is nothing to like!"

Lander Chemmel permitted only a smirk. The Junior of the three, he was the youngest ever chairman of any branch of the PLA. His hair was jet black, his eyes bright and blue, and if he weren't sitting with Union leaders one might misconstrue him as a car salesman. "I don't see how we can't use this as an opportunity to improve our terms. After all, the PLA is an essential part to maritime traffic, even with such little international trade as we have."

Gorkem Oth was the largest of the three, and habitually wiped his brow with the kerchief and stroked his moustache as he returned it to his pocket. "Are you suggesting a general strike? It had been tried before, the corporations fired the employees on the spot and several lawsuits were filed. We are not in a position of strength for a strike to be effective."

Chemmel's eyes glistened: Oth had fallen into his pitch! Gorkem hated the look Chemmel got when this happened. "Well, Gorkem, suppose the Graan's initiatives pass all legislatures and trade increases threefold. Our ports are not equipped for that volume! Many people will need to be hired to construct a larger facility, to transport the influx of goods, and to generally operate and smooth the flow of the port."

"So?"

"So we talk to our contracted corporations, and say 'We see what is coming, and we want our employment assured, and you will be able to handle the inflow.' With employment secured, we can expand our ranks. With our ranks expanded, our coffers will be filled and we will be able to strike when the expansion is complete--expansion can not last indefinitely, and when it is finished a sensible corporation would either fire its employees or find ways to re-allocate them. But under the contract we would be negotiating, we would make firing impossible."

"And so we could strike because the Corporations are violating our contract."

"...and the ports would close and they would be forced to listen to our demands."

"But what," interjected Korel, "Are our demands? Wages cannot be raised without a comparable increase in responsibility or performance. International trade is harmful to domestic labor, and your proposal is to let that happen! We must stop these initiatives first and foremost!"

"Ah, but consider the long term! With the PLA on strike, we could tie the problem directly to the Graan, and with elections coming up it would mean his ruin!"

"But the initiatives would still be in place! I laud your ambition but we must act Now, not later. Our markets are about to be saturated with foreign goods, and labor is about to be outsourced to foreign countries. How do we stop it?"

"Tariffs." Said Gorkem, simply. "We can join both your proposals together. When we renegotiate for ensured employment, we negotiate for a clause that raises the cost of doing business, and effectively counteracts any tariff deals to encourage business here. Domestic industry is saved and foreign industry is kept from the gates."

"There are many flaws with that plan." Korel said. "But it is workable. I will see to the details, and present the negotiating terms at our next meeting."

"Until next time, friends!"

"Until next time."
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Epsilon
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"Sir?" Came the cautious voice somewhere behind the present Graan, Lothan Marphal. He twisted his head to get a peripheral look, as he was walking down the hallway. "Yes? What can I do for you."

The inquirer came into full view, and was recognized immediately: It was Tophine Zade, the Intelligence Director. He was a slight man, but with formidable power. Lothan respected him for his good control over the Department. "Graan, if I may, I wish to deliver to you personally a report I have received regarding your recent initiatives."

Lothan was intrigued. "And so? Walk with me, I am headed to my office presently." It was the Executive Mansion of Graanikep, a modest facility by historical standards, but still grand by comparison to its surroundings. Much construction was still going on in the city.

"Very well." Tophine scurried to pace the executive. "We have reliable intelligence regarding murmurs of unrest with some Labor Unions."

Lothan laughed. "The Labor Unions are always in some level of unrest. what do they want now, hire wages? Less taxes?"

"They are fearful of international Direct Investment." Tophine rubbed his hands nervously, though Lothan knew it was a tell: The problem goes deeper than he was being told.

Lothan scoffed in response. "They should love direct investment. They get the worlds work which is executed here, at the crossroads of the world! For generations we have been protecting a society that is perfect for doing business: Low taxes, low regulation, but fair practice."

"But their fear is that the economic benefit would be leaving the country."

"That is false."

"They believe it nonetheless."

"Well I can't be expected to react to the whims of fools can I?"

"No sir. Further issue lies in the potential for long term problems. there is an election in two years, you see."

"And nothing would help me better than by allowing international direct investment into our economy, creating a boom and increasing our international prestige."

"The Unions would tarnish your achievements."

"So let them. I was amused by your intelligence but now I am annoyed. I appreciate the fidelity in your desire to preserve my regime, but I cannot be bothered with irrational flights of fancy. See to it that no laws broken, no rights diminished, and that the State remains strong."

Tophine nodded: He had heard that before, when requesting authorization to interrogate traitors and war criminals. It was a blank check. "Yes, sir." he said, and scurried away from the Graan.
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Epsilon
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Borzi Ipsel, CEO of Meridian Shipping Co, scribbled out his authorization to dispatch a crew to an upcoming business expo in Graanid. He then turned the full force of his Six-foot-six, two-hundred eighty pound attention onto the small man sitting at the desk before him.

"Sorry about that, how can I help you?" He bellowed--much against his will, he was a kindred spirit but a loud and boistrous one.

"I had some questions about your contract with the PLA. I know this information is privileged so I have received authorization to speak with you directly." said the slight figure of Tophine Zade.

"Well, by terms of the contract I am not entirely authorized to disclose those terms to anyone who happens to get authorization." Borzi's mind was rapidly trying to figure this person out. This man, Tophine was his name? Was physically incapable, and so must compensate for intellect. But why come here and ask stupid questions? What was his interest? He would lead a goose chase until the answers were revealed.

"I am well aware. But the contract expires soon, does it not? And re-negotiation is imminent."

"This is true." Curiosity had the better of him: "Are you a Union man? What is your interest here."

Tophine slowly, methodically removed a fold of leather from his pocket, and placed it--closed--on the Borzi's desk. "I am not a Union man." was all he said. "So at re-negotiation, what are your objectives in negotiations?"

Borzi eyed the fold. He had seen things like that before, he knew it meant government, but which branch? It was not of concern yet. "We hope to hire more people. The Graans initiatives will bring much business through our ports, and the Union makes hiring easy. They have certain standards of their own, so we know we get consistent employees."

"I see. And if I told you they planned on leaving?"

"Why would they do that?"

"Protectionism."

"Of their union?"

"We have thrived on a self-contained economy for centuries. It has been beneficial, but we can only grow so far. The world is changing, and the Graan has seen that. Foreign trade is the only way to maximize our national potential. Unions believe that foreign investment is damaging to our national identity, and that we will lose jobs."

"Economic protectionism then. Well, they are wrong. Has anyone tried explaining it to them?"

"They believe they are right, and they are willing to do more damage to our economy to prevent even the slightest perceived damage from happening."

"I see." Borzi now reached for the fold. If this information was true, he needed to know he could rely on it for making business decisions. He flipped it open with the tip of his finger: A Graanid Intelligence badge shone from beneath. This information was reliable. "I see." he said again.

"So when re-negotiation comes, what do you plan to do?"

"Permit the contract to expire."

Tophine nodded and stood. "Thank you for your time, Mr. Ipsel."

"Thank you." Borzi said, rising as well. Tophine collected his badge and returned it to his pocket, and disappeared behind the large metal doors of the executives office.
Edited by Epsilon, Sep 11 2011, 03:04 PM.
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Epsilon
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Gorkem Oth had a calmness about him when he was mad. Whether by habit or nature none knew for sure but he. But Korel Smith's experience with the man told him that Gorkem Oth was mad with rage.

"So you're telling me the Government has already begun countermeasures against our plan?"

"That is exactly what I said, mere moments ago, Gorkem. Someone in our ranks is either communicating actively with the government, or the government has more dystopian surveillance measures than any of us ever fathomed."

"I certainly hope it is the latter because the former is far more terrifying."

"We must embrace both possibilities."

"Indeed. So--"

"I will not speculate as to the nature of the leak." Korel interrupted. "It is unwise to do so vocally should the surveillance be true. However, it means we must work through other means."

"I see. So what do we do, then, Korel?" Gorkem wiped his brow in the characteristic manner. "What other means are there?"

"Removal of our fair Graan from office."

"How can you say such things with the potential for surveillance?"

"Because I have the right to my opinion and the Government may not suppress that right. I am a member of the Peoples Progressives. May I ask your affiliation?"

"The Same."

"And our president is a Conservative."

"As is the trend, nationally."

"Then we have an opportunity to undercut his image."

"How, Korel, tell me how!"

"Is there not a Business Expo coming soon?"

Gorkem thought a moment. This was not the explanation he was hoping for, but Korel's wry grin that uncurled from his thin lips, revealing his oversized teeth bursting from his mouth, he knew there was an opportunity there that could not be missed.
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