Under the Foot of Industry
Failure of the First Union
Our demands are simple. Pay us fairly, promise us safety, and He'an help, give us better equipment.The extraction of Ichor creates an environment that allows for exceptional profits and extreme danger. Those in power have the wealth to keep their extractionist employees in check; despite the risk to their lives, the workers have very little say in their employment and safety. Roughly a year ago, workers at Base Camp: Qur began to talk amongst themselves, organizing the origins of the first Union of workers that Cathedris had seen. However, as soon as they began to make their demands, their employer Amy & Amee's came down hard with restrictions and violence in an effort to put a stop to what they saw as a threat to their way of business.
A bloody protest
The proto-union first began their protests in the permanent settlement portion of their Base Camp, far away from Qur in relative safety. They made simple demands, hoping for an increase in pay and safety, and promised that not a single employee would go out to extract Ichor from Qur at a temporary camp until those demands were met.The First Response
Send in containment. Don't let anyone leave camp.Almost immediately after the workers made their first demands, their employee responded with force. A special unit of Catalurgists trained in anti-riot measures were contracted and brought in. They quickly surrounded the workers, holding formation and turning it into a war of attrition. Some workers attempted to break the containment, but were quickly turned to ash by some of the Catalurgists surrounding them.
The Push
A week into the stand-off, with food beginning to run low in the camp, workers began to get desperate. Still, they were unwavering in their demands for increase pay and safety, and those trying to end the protest were beginning to realize that there would be no peaceful end to this conflict. As Qur began to wander closer to the temporary camp, a horrible plan began to form.Open the blockade, on the side facing the temporary camp. Give them some encouragement to get moving.
The Catalurgists surrounding the protesting workers opened their ranks, leaving half of the containment area open for the employees to move through if they so wished. This would lead them directly out of the permanent camp, towards the valley that would soon be shook by the heavy footsteps of the approaching God-husk Qur.
Stomping out the Uprising
Using brutal incentive tactics like fire and gunshots, the containment squad forced the early unionizers out from their relative safety within the permanent camp. They were forced to choose between pain of death at the hands of the hired Catalurgists, or risk fleeing into the path of Qur, hoping to be spared by random chance. As he drove up clouds of dust on his oblivious trudge through the final moments of the first Union, Qur obscured the carnage that was happening beneath his feet. When all was said and done, roughly 3/4 of the unionizers had lost their lives in the frenzy that was attempting to survive under the foot of industry, and the feet of gods.Take out some new job ads in all the local papers -- we've got new employment openings.
Industry of Blood
The extraction of Ichor is a bloody industry, both in what it produces, and what it costs. Many workers in the field have significantly reduced life expectancy, and it's seen as one of the most dangerous jobs in the world -- only slightly behind Legion operatives in Rendling hotspots. While the pay that Ichor extractionists recieve is significant, often enough to support a family for decades by putting in a few years hard work, it's generally seen as not nearly enough to warrant such dangerous conditions.Death in the field
Should a worker die in the field, any wages that have not yet been paid out are not sent to the family, but rather kept by the parent company.Listen, I know it's dangerous. I know I might die. But darling, we need the money, and we're running out of time.
. . . So I'm guessing none of those people got employee of the month. (I'm so sorry:) Its a great article though :D)
Ahahahaha, no, no they definitely did not. Though I bet that jerk Kevin who keeps getting the award every other month was mysteriously not there while everyone started protesting!