Chapter 4: The Secret Workers 

Grandpa Joe tells Charlie how the large factory in their city randomly shut down one day, laying off all of the workers and closing. Mr. Wonka said he was SORRY, and then sent home every single worker. Not an HR professional was left to handle the closeout and/or severance packages. No safety inspector left to ensure the ongoing safety of this large industrial building. Just shut it down. The reason for laying off the local workforce? Supposedly corporate espionage. Spies. Wonka was mad that other chocolatiers had stolen his special candies, such at the non-melting ice cream.*

Then one day, it reopened, only they never rehired the workers. The gate remained locked. Grandpa Joe claims that "the people" could see small dark shadows moving about the factory. And the factory has been making candy and chocolate and they are even better than ever. Once again we are reminded that no one goes in and no one comes out. No one has even seen Mr. Wonka since the closing of the factory. The only things that come out are the chocolates and candies. They are packed and picked up by the Post Office. 

At the end of the chapter, we are left with a cliff hanger! Mr Bucket (Charlie's father, the text helpfully reminds me) runs into the room waving a newspaper about. The Wonka Factory will be opened again to a lucky few! Haha, printed newspapers. 

*he can make non-melting ice creams, but a chocolate mansion melts into a puddle? 

Okay, seriously? How many violations is Mr Wonka running here? He's not letting in food and safety inspectors! He's fired the locals and doesn't leave his factory! Does he have foundations and grants for residents of this city? Charitable donations to get the goodwill of the people he's not hiring and poisoning with his factory? He fired a factory worth of people and they still love him? What is in this candy? Nicotine? Heroin? Meth? Ecstasy? Whatever "natural" drug I learned about last night on reddit where you don't even know you are high but you experience intense hallucinations? AND he laid off the locals but brought in immigrants;literal illegal aliens to save costs! Willy Wonka is Mitt Romney.