It seems Matthew's family left a trust fund to pay for a annual Christmas pageant. He also owns a financially struggling manufacturing business.
The trust fund had expended all the money for the Christmas pageants so Matt goes to the town council meeting to explain the dilemma. The mayor and town council blame him for the fund being exhausted. Apparently, they think it's Matt's responsibility to harvest a magical money tree to replenish the trust fund. As his business is unable to afford to keep all his employees on full time pay, they go on strike, apparently assuming the union can sustain strike pay.
The details are in the movie.
