(OTL) January 4th 1902, Batumi, Georgia - A fire breaks out at a warehouse belonging to the Rothschilds refinery. A party of workers fights the blaze, but are refused the promised bonus payment by the refinery manager, Francois Juene.
Djugashvilli, (Stalin), leads a deputation to the manager demanding the payment, this is again refused. Djugashvilli calls out a strike.
6 weeks later, 17th February 1902, the Rothschilds management capitulate and the workers return to work with a 30% raise to boot.
The POD, is why...
The door closed with a quiet click behind Iosip as he entered the drawing room. Although he had been to meetings with Von Stein, he had never been invited to the German's mansion on the hills above Batumi. As he gazed around he spotted the bookshelves, the inveterate reader that Iosip was devoured the titles with his eyes - Klauswitz, Darwin, Engels, yes, maybe here was a man he could do business with.
"Ah, Joseph Besovich, thank you for joining us" The German accented Russian of Von Stein floated across the room, as he neared the fireplace, Iosep noticed the second guest, the decidedly plain, plain clothes marked him for what he was instantly, "I believe you may already be aquainted with Captain Lavrov"?
"Tiflis cop, what brings you to Batumi"?
"Tiflis Okhrana if you please little Soso, it seems the world moves on where ever you go eh"? Lavrov replied, his voice calm and measured.
Without waiting, Stalin took a vacant seat. "So what's this to do with you then"
"It seems that Graf Von Stein's warehouse suffered a little accident a short while back, only it wasn't, was it"?
Stalin smiled, "you know how accidents can happen, one candle in the wrong place and poof, these old timber buildings... tut tut"
"You were right Captain, he sees the jaws of fate and laughs", Von Stein refilled his glass, "the only problem with this Joseph Besovich, is that you were seen starting the fire. And that little incovenience leaves us, all three of us, with a little problem. I have to report that the arsonist was an employee, you have to go before a judge, and the poor captain here will have to report to your poor grieving mother how you were hanged as a common criminal. Tell me captain, how is Keke these days"?
A feeling of ice ran up Stalin's spine, the threat was clear and two fold, even if by some miracle he escaped the hangman's noose, even if exile were his only punishment, the threat to his mother was all too plain.
"And so"? replied Stalin, the usual swagger gone from his voice.
"It is simple, the refinery will suffer no further serious incidents, Captain Lavrov here will be informed of any major developments and you my Georgian freind, go about your business as normal, all, of your business".
The drink, which had been fine brandy, tasted like acid in Stalin's mouth, "I must betray myself to you"? a much quietened Stalin replied, "And in return you allow me to carry on"?
"That's the deal Djugashvili, personally I couldn't care if you spent your last moments dancing on a rope, but our German freind seems to think you could be worth more than that".
"I'll do it damn you" Stalin knew he had been outmanouvered, still determined to beat the deal Stalin continued, "But nothing in writing, nothing is safe from rats".
"The we have a deal"! Von Stein noted happily, "Hmmm, won't do to have you leave empty handed, you have to take something back with you, what should that be"?
Mirthlessly Stalin laughed "Am I in a position to ask anything? 1/3 more in pay then - for all the workers. If you're going to fuck me like a whore, at least have the curtosey to pay me like one".
"I think we can handle that, you keep your new dog on a tight lead Captain, I think this one will bite if you're not careful, you may leave now Joseph Besovich, you will forget our deal at your peril".
Silently cursing, Stalin left the mansion and made his way back to the Batumi house of his residence, the strike was over, the workers had their pay deal, but he'd sold his soul to the devil in the process.