For a large project such as the construction of a factory by an automobile company, the three-month project approval is considered to be extremely fast. Only in developed cities in China can such rapid approval be achieved.

For example, when Tesla built a factory in Germany, the approval process took more than two years. After the German government approved it, it went to the local government for approval. After the local government approved it, it also had to go through various environmental impact assessments. Musk almost gave up the project.

.

This is still in Germany, which is the most efficient country in Europe. If it were replaced by a lazier country, such as Italy and Spain, a single government might not be able to complete project approvals if it is full.

However, Li Weidong was not satisfied with this. He shook his head: "Three months is too long. I hope to complete the project approval within one month."

"One month?" Everyone in the room frowned slightly.

After a while, the leader said: "Chairman Li, with all due respect, such a large project involves many departments. Even if we go through the process, it is impossible to complete all the approvals in one month."

"Then can you give me a back door?" Li Weidong smiled slightly and then said: "Let the approval process go ahead, and the construction of the factory area will proceed at the same time."

"That's construction without review!" Everyone was lost in thought.

It is certainly inappropriate to start construction before the project has been approved. However, if the local government turns a blind eye, it can indeed be done. However, if something really goes wrong, it will definitely have to be done.

Responsible.

The construction of the Jaguar Land Rover factory is already a certainty. If it is built before going through the review, there should be no problem. However, it involves liability issues, so no one dared to directly agree to it for a while.

Li Weidong continued: "Dear leaders, although Jaguar Land Rover is not as good as top automobile groups such as Volkswagen and General Motors, it is still a world-renowned luxury car brand after all. The establishment of a Jaguar Land Rover factory will inevitably attract widespread international attention. This project is absolutely feasible.

As a benchmark project for attracting investment.

If we can put the factory into production as quickly as possible, it will also be a good advertising effect, which will have a demonstration and driving effect on future investment promotion work. Investors from various countries know that the efficiency of building factories here is so high.

They will definitely give priority to investing in us.”

These words made everyone present nod their heads. A luxury car brand with decades of history is indeed very suitable as a benchmark project to show China's efficiency to the world!

Talking directly about the benefits is indeed the most advantageous way of negotiation. Although the local government will bear part of the responsibility for construction without review, it is easy to calculate which is more important when it comes to attracting investment.

Once it is successful, it can at least create a good investment environment for the outside world. Even if no international giants move in in a short period of time, as long as a few investment inspection groups come, it is worth taking responsibility for this "construction before review".

Thinking of this, the leader said, "Chairman Li, we will discuss your suggestion immediately. As long as it is conducive to investment promotion, I think there should be no problem in principle."

Although the words were not stated clearly, it was equivalent to a change of direction and agreed to Li Weidong's request.

Li Weidong nodded with satisfaction, and then said with a smile: "As for the project procedures, please let the leaders continue to worry about it!"

…

As long as the local government allows the project to start, Li Weidong does not need to worry about other issues.

Domestic urban planning is still very good, especially in economically developed areas. Special industrial parks must have been planned. The land and infrastructure are ready-made, which can save the trouble of land acquisition, and enterprises can move in directly.

At that time, real estate had not yet been copied, the cost of land acquisition was much lower, the price of land use was not high, coupled with low labor costs, it was truly a golden age for the development of manufacturing.

In terms of land, China does have unique advantages. If it were placed in other countries, land would definitely be a problem.

For example, Tesla's future factory in Germany has been delayed for a long time due to land issues. There are no residents on that land, but dozens of hectares of forest need to be cut down, so local residents require the construction company to comply with regulations such as safety, water supply, and noise.

After solving the problems of safety, water supply and noise, environmental organizations asked Tesla to rebuild the forest and resettle the small animals in the forest. Tesla had no choice but to choose another piece of land, plant three times the number of trees, and build artificial bird nests around it.

, artificial lizard nests and artificial ant nests for moving animals in the forest.

But even this still doesn't work. The environmental protection organization proposed that there is a kind of bat in the forest that is hibernating, so deforestation cannot be started in winter until the bats wake up in spring. So the work of deforestation was stopped because of a few bats.

It was delayed for three months.

In the end, it was Musk who started clamoring for divestment, forcing the German government to intervene.

…

At the Bemher factory, negotiations are still ongoing.

"Sir, the employer's lawyers rejected our proposed salary increase, but they are willing to consider giving us more shares."

After listening to the report from his subordinates, Norwood Jewell couldn't help but frown.

"It's like this again. They first reject our conditions, and then try to make up for it in other ways. After we offer new conditions, they will refuse again, and then make concessions in other ways! This is completely delaying time!

"

Norwood-Jewell is not a fool. After several rounds of negotiations, he has realized that the employer is completely stalling for time.

"The management is just stalling for time. They have no intention of making concessions. It seems that it is impossible to make the management compromise through negotiation, and we will still have to go on strike!"

Thinking of this, Norwood Jewell ordered: "Notify our people to start an indefinite strike tomorrow!"

Facing the strike, Li Weidong, like last time, showed no mercy and directly chose to lay off employees.

Since the Jaguar Land Rover factory is going to be moved to China, it is only a matter of time before the Bemher factory closes down. So we might as well take this opportunity and fire all the workers and save a compensation payment.

Although it is very easy for companies in the United States to lay off employees, and just saying "youre fired" can make you pack up and leave, it does not mean that compensation is not required. Especially when workers are backed by labor unions, compensation is often huge.

Because there is a thing called a "class action lawsuit."

Once large-scale layoffs reach the level of a class action lawsuit, the amount will be very huge, and the corresponding legal fees will also be very high. This will allow some well-known large law firms to participate in class action lawsuits, not to mention the United States

The most indispensable thing is lawyers.

It is expensive to hire a lawyer to litigate, but class actions reduce individual litigation costs. This means that workers can hire well-known lawyers to help them litigate for a small amount of money.

A bird without a head cannot fly, and a group of dragons without a leader cannot bring about a class action lawsuit. At this time, the union will naturally stand up and be the leader, which can also improve its reputation. Therefore, in this type of class action lawsuit involving layoffs, the union will play a decisive role.

After Musk acquired Twitter, he dared to lay off employees on a large scale. One of the main reasons was that Twitter did not have a union.

The United Auto Workers is the most powerful union organization in the United States, and it is not easy to organize a class action lawsuit! So Li Weidong simply took advantage of this wave of strikes to fire all employees.

Even if the union initiates a class action lawsuit in the future, it will not receive much compensation, because the workers were laid off because of the strike, so there is no reason why they should be paid even if they can't work!

…

The strike had just begun at the Bemher factory and layoff announcements were posted.

Norwood-Jewell was completely surprised that the employer was so tough. After all, the employer used the same method during the last strike.

At the strike demonstration site, workers held signs in their hands and shouted slogans from time to time.

Among the crowd, a beer seller was carrying a beer bucket and a disposable plastic cup, trying to make a profit. A cup of beer costs US$10, which includes the boy's labor cost, so the price is quite expensive.

Yes, but there are indeed many strikers who are willing to patronize his business.

Do you think the strike is just about holding signs and shouting slogans? Of course not. There is also beer, hot dogs and all kinds of pies!

This is the case in the United States. Many inexplicable things can be turned into a grand party or even a festival.

Several workers gathered together, drinking beer and discussing the strike.

"Today's strike seems to be ending in vain again. The management did not compromise. We did not get any benefits. Instead, we spent 10 US dollars to buy a beer!" The person who spoke showed an unhappy expression.

The activities organized by the union before were either queuing for barbecues or drinking beer freely, and having fun eating and drinking. Now that they are allowed to go on strike and bring subsidies, anyone will feel uncomfortable.

Another person said: "I heard that the management has started to lay off employees, starting with the union cadres just like last time. As soon as the layoff list came out, the personnel department notified those people to go through the resignation procedures."

"This employer is really tough and dares to go tit-for-tat with the union. Even General Motors is not an opponent of the union. I really don't know where this employer has the confidence." The speaker was a new employee who obviously didn't know the history of the last strike.

The man next to him immediately explained: "I remember that during the last strike, the management laid off half of the workers and directly drove the union forces out of the factory! This time the management used the same method, but I don't know if there will be layoffs this time.

Fall on our heads."

"That means the union may not be able to defeat the employer? We may lose our jobs?" the man said worriedly.

When it comes to "unemployment," some people can't help but panic. Americans, everyone has a mortgage, a car, a credit card, and once they lose their job, all kinds of bills can crush them to death.

At this moment, there was some commotion in the crowd in the distance, and Norwood Jewell was seen walking over from a distance. Next to Norwood Jewell, there was a middle-aged man in his forties.

Norwood Jewell came to the crowd, picked up a loudspeaker, and introduced: "Workers, this is Congressman Menendez. He is here to support us!"

The loudspeaker was handed to Congressman Menendez, and the guy started talking.

In the United States, if you want to be a politician, you must have a mouth. Everyone who can become a congressman is a master of public speaking. The same is true for Menendez. After an impassioned speech, the workers

Immediately boosted morale.

Those workers who were still withdrawn or had doubts suddenly gained a backbone.

The most important thing about the labor movement is to have a backbone. With a backbone, the workers will not be scattered, not to mention that this "backbone" is also a member of the parliament.

Under the system of separation of powers in the United States, congressmen may not have much real power, but their ability to get things done is definitely far superior to that of the administrative agencies. With the support of congressmen who are good at getting things done, the momentum for the strike grew instantly.

…

Li Weidong arrived at the negotiation site by car and saw a man in his fifties from a distance, surrounded by a group of people.

The lawyer said from the side: "Mr. Li, that person is Congressman Menendez. I didn't expect that the Automobile Workers Union would also marry him."

"Is this guy helping the Automobile Workers Union stand up? Those people around him should be reporters, he really knows how to find opportunities to show off!" Li Weidong said.

"The reporter was specially hired by the union." The lawyer sighed helplessly, and then said: "Mr. Li, if Menendez personally participates in the negotiations, we may have to make more concessions."

Li Weidong just smiled and did not answer. Since he was going to move the factory to China, there was no question of whether to make concessions or not.

After a while, Li Weidong met his old acquaintance Norwood Jewell.

At this time, Norwood-Jewell had the support of MPs, so he naturally looked arrogant.

The last time he went on strike, Norwood-Jewell came back defeated, but this time he planned to bite off a piece of meat from Li Weidong!

When the negotiations began, the Auto Workers Union took the lead in putting forward its own conditions, which were nothing more than the same conditions: a salary increase, vacations, and benefits.
To be continued...