To My Most Trusted Senior Manager,

I have been made aware that one or more of your employees have chosen to join a union, which contradicts our company's principles and regulations.

Let me make this perfectly clear: "Anyone who thinks they can avoid the consequences of their actions will face standard repercussions, regardless of any vain attempts and excuses. To be frank, I have confidence in your ability to uphold the company's mission and values. I believe you wouldn't act in a foolish manner and stray from what we stand for. However, I do suggest you carefully consider any decisions you make to avoid any mistakes.

In the meantime, we must make the best of the situation. There is no need to despair. Hundreds of these adult contract workers who were laid off in the previous years will be with us to fill in some of the temporary vacancies from all the laid-off tenured employees.

One of our people is inside the union organization itself. Union can be useful to us. Do not get me wrong. I am not talking about giving our employees more days to spend with their families or providing them with good benefits. A hardworking worker, say Benjamin for example, will only see the union as an outdated institution in their field of work. When Benjamin sees a local union activist passing around pamphlets, Benjamin will not understand what exactly are the benefits of being a union. After all, Benjamin still thinks that it’s a ratrace, a never-ending competition for success and status. Why would Benjamin want to make lives better for other people?

Take advantage of Benjamin's vulnerability when he attends union meetings after work. Instead of recognizing his fellow working class people's humanity, divert Benjamin's attention to their flaws. It's essential to highlight their negative traits and peculiar clothing choices, rather than their admirable qualities. Whether it's a kind-hearted hippie who enjoys hiking or a staunch progressive, avoid showing Benjamin their positive attributes. This way, Benjamin will be more susceptible to believing that joining the union is a foolish decision.

Currently, Benjamin has a misconception of what it means to be a "Union member." He believes that it signifies a well-off, middle-class worker, but in reality, it's mostly for show. His mind is preoccupied with notions of financial security, the ability to provide for a family, and purchasing a spacious home. Therefore, seeing other unsuccessful union members during the meeting will be a hard pill for him to swallow.

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To maintain this misconception, it's crucial you monitor his communication. Make sure he doesn't have the opportunity to question his preconceived notions about what union members should look like. Keep his thoughts and ideas about unions fuzzy and indistinct for the time being, and you'll have plenty of time to manipulate him later on.

Ensure Benjamin's disappointment is intensified during his initial weeks as a union member. Once again, I emphasize this: Make it seem disappointing and frustrating. This feeling can be felt by anyone, including a nurse like Sally, who works long hours for low pay and becomes frustrated when the union is unable to advocate effectively on behalf of her and her colleagues. Even a seasoned factory worker like Jack, who has been a union member for decades, may feel the disappointment when the union becomes less responsive to the individual needs of its members. This feeling is a part of every person's life and replaces hopes and desires with the monotony of the cold, hard reality.

Unions take this risk because they aim to raise the status of workers in an unjust world, even if it means sacrificing the hopes of individual workers. One of the risks it takes is that these unions are just made of workers such as themselves. There’s no overlord telling them what’s right. What is set before them is a democratic voting process so that they can decide for themselves. And therein lies our opportunity to manipulate them and brainwash them to our capitalist agenda.

However, we must also be cautious of potential dangers. If they succeed in building relationships with each other and overcoming the initial challenges of organizing, they will become less susceptible to fear and consequently much more difficult to manipulate. This is of course assuming that these union members at the meetings are the quintessential examples of perfection.

If they disappoint, then you will find it easier to manipulate them. Your job is to make sure that Benjamin does not question whether his fellow workers, who are also exploited by the capitalist system, are also human beings with their own emotions and aspirations.

Benjamin may not have had the chance to build his social network, either due to starting a new job or having to work overtime to make ends meet. Benjamin has not yet grasped the concept of being politically active. By simply joining a union, he believes that he is participating and making a difference. He treats it as a passive activity where he earns "contribution points" for doing nothing. He may think he is politically active but in reality he is just another example of fake performative-activism. Your goal is to keep him believing in the lies that he tells himself.

Forever turning the world upside down,

Profitmaster, CEO of WealthCraft