[@Paradoxial] I'm interested, would you be accepting of a character who basically sees the writing on the wall and, either secretly or openly, advocates for things like workers rights etc, with the end goal of getting into a position to ride out the upcoming changes with a minimum of personal loss.  Perhaps they also come from a family who was/is particularly harsh or overbearing, so they have to contend with image, family, and other complications?

EDIT: Basically, they'd be trying to better the lot of the workers, with the intent of using that goodwill to stay in power after the (in their eyes) inevitable uprisings/unionizations/etc, while also funding and encouraging strikes against their own enemies