Chapter 353: Unjust Laws


    France and Austria joining forces to suppress the Hungarian noble uprising didn''t necessarily make them allies. At least, that''s how it appeared on the surface. In French propaganda, Austria remained a conservative, backward, oppressive regime. On the other hand, in Austrian propaganda, France was portrayed as irreligious, unruly, and a symbol of betrayal of traditions. Overall, in their respective propaganda, neither side painted the other favorably.


    However, both France and Austria didn''t solely focus their criticism on each other. France continued to direct its criticism primarily towards Ennd, especially recently when the English took advantage of France and Austria being preupied with Hungary and Pnd to pass a series of resolutions, initiatingprehensive repression of workers within their own borders.


    Initially, Ennd passed the "Trade Union Organization Act," dering any inter-enterprise trade union organization illegal. They mandated the dissolution of all joint unions within a specified time, allowing only enterprises with over a thousand workers to form unions.


    Furthermore, thisw demanded that all union activities, including strikes and various meetings, acquire government approval. Even the financial aspects of union activities required government oversight.


    Additionally, the English enacted an amendment to the "Navigation Act." Despite its name, this amendment had no relevance to Mr. Rayne''s hopes of easing French discrimination against British goods for better trade ess. Instead, it restricted British migration to North America.


    ording to this regtion, British nationals could only depart from British territory aboard British ships, whether bound for the New World or Europe.


    Due to industrial growth in Europe, particrly in France, along with higher wages therepared to Ennd, many British workers found a new path. They saved money to go to France, worked there temporarily, earned a sum, and then immigrated to the New World.


    Consequently, Ennd experienced significant poption outflows over the years. This mass departure of workers was detrimental to Ennd''s industry. However, to safeguard native and Rhine Alliance workers'' interests, France swiftly implemented controls on work permits for British citizens. Generally, only skilled workers received work permits, leaving unskilled British workers no choice but to work illegally in France.


    While France indeed offered higher average wages than Ennd, this didn''t significantly benefit undocumented British workers. Without legal status, these workers had no legal protection. Unscrupulous French employers,cking the constraints of a revolution or revolutionary government, exploited their vulnerability, reducing their wages to levels akin to those in Ennd.Yet, despite these hardships, British workers continued migrating to Europe. However, their destination shifted from France directly to Europe as a transit point en route to North America. France incentivized migration to Louisiana by offering subsidies for those swearing allegiance to France and buying tickets for settlement in Louisiana. As a result, nearly two out of three immigrants arriving in Louisiana spoke German.


    Regarding British workers taking advantage of benefits in France, the French weren''t too concerned. They even weed this trend, as it weakened British industrial capabilities. Moreover, those leaving Ennd through this route lost loyalty to the country. Having more non-German speakers arriving in Louisiana was also deemed favorable.


    Although theoretically requiring Frenchnguage proficiency for subsidies, in practice, the French had minimalnguage requirements for these British workers. Basic phrases like "Bonjour" (hello) and "Merci" (thank you) sufficed, easily mastered even by the least skilled.


    Due to these subsidies, the cost of tickets from Europe to Louisiana was approximately one-third cheaper than tickets from Ennd. Consequently, the exodus helped reduce unemployment rates to some extent.


    In modern times, a drop in unemployment rates would te government officials for days, or if fortunate enough to be a knowledgeable king, potentiallyst an entire term. However, in this bizarre era, this figure troubled the British government.


    The concern arose because, ording to market principles, scarcity in any factor inevitably led to a rise in its price. Labor was no exception; a scarcity ofbor would lead to increased wages, subsequently raising costs and decreasing profits for the "respectable folk." Didn''t Ennd maintain lower wages than the European maind precisely due to its surplusbor?


    Therefore, the government introduced a series ofws. They increased ticket prices from Ennd to Europe, ensuring that British workers seeking cheaper French passage wouldn''t benefit. In fact, not only did tickets to Europe increase, but those bound for the New World also became more expensive. This strategy aimed to decrease the number of emigrants, ensuring sufficient unemployment rates domestically—a primary reason behind this amendment.


    Certainly, by using governmental forces to artificially manipte supply and demand, France designating Ennd as a "non-free trade country" had valid grounds.


    Rumors suggested that the French Council was preparing a neww referred to as the "Special Act 302." Thisw would authorize the French government, during anti-dumping investigations of "non-free trade countries," to consider prices from other "free trade countries" rather than the original source prices.


    Following the swift passage of this series ofws, the English took immediate action. Initially, the London Police issued a notice to the "Textile Workers Union," demanding they dere dissolution within 48 hours. The Trade Union Organization Act prohibited any cross-enterprise unions.


    Apart from dissolution orders, remaining unionspliant with the Act''s specifications required various legal checks on their organization and finances, enforced by government-appointed personnel.


    "In essence, this is aplete annihtion of us," stated Jacques Gant, holding the notice from the London Police Department.


    "Boss, what do we do?" asked Grandet.


    "We have two paths ahead. One is to confront the police department and, by extension, the government," said Gant. "We''ve organized worker patrols during this time and armed ourselves somewhat, but that''s only for defensive measures against potential attacks by a few factory owners''ckeys on the unions. Yet, if we wish to confront the English government—the ultimateckey for all factory owners and the wealthy—it''s far from sufficient. If we take that path, at least for now, we''ll surely fail.


    "As for the second path," Gant smiled, "that''s surrender. We''ve already shown some capability in our prior confrontations with those gentlemen. If we surrender, considering our demonstrated ability, they might offer us a bone to appease us. What do you all think?"


    "Boss, that''s nonsense!" Barkley eximed.


    "Exactly, Boss, that''s nonsense!" echoed the others.


    "If we take the second path, we might gain some benefits. However, we''d be selling out our fellow workers. I reckon soon, Mr. Rayne''s new contracts wille out, and they''ll be even more unreasonable than thest. If the workers won''t resist, why not take it a step further?" Grandet said. "Boss, you know us. Among us, there aren''t any cowards willing to betray our brothers. Tell us what to do; even if we can''t win, we''ll take a bite before we go."


    "We can''t directly confront them, but we can''t disband either," Gant replied. "Our united union will go underground, continuing to lead the workers'' struggle. Furthermore, we can''t retreat silently. Even in a forced retreat, we must leave something behind. Grandet, organize our members to go underground, while I, in the union''s name, will initiate one final strike..."


    "Boss..."


    Everyone understood the immense danger of such actions at this time.


    "If we don''t fight, if we don''t sacrifice, there won''t be a future," Gant said. "As long as


    we disy the ability to cause them harm, yes, as long as we demonstrate that capability, they''ll have to consider if their actions are worthwhile. They''ll have to consider our interests before they decide what to do next. Alright, brothers, when we started forming this union, we were waiting for this day, just like Saint Paul and Saint Peter awaited the cross on their journey to Rome. Let''s take action now!"