Shadow Empire

Chapter 90 Dockside Union
Johnny quickly left with the money. He didn't want to stay here any longer. After he left, Erwin asked curiously, "Did you really lend him the money?"

Lance nodded, "He's not up yet."

"I worked in his bakery for more than a month, and I knew exactly how much he made every month."

"Even if his daughter didn't steal money from his money box, he would still have about two hundred dollars left every month after deducting various expenses."

Erwin couldn't help but exclaim, "So many?!"

Lance agreed with this view. "Yes, it is indeed a lot, but you have to know that these two hundred dollars include the wages of three people. If they go out to work, with their federal status, as long as they are not lazy, they can easily earn thirty-five dollars a month."

"They still need to eat and drink."

"He actually makes about $100 a month from the bakery."

"Even if he doesn't pay other people, he still can't pay it back. For six months, even if he can save 300 yuan a month, he still can't pay it back."

Erwin was a little confused, "Then why did you lend it to him?"

Lance casually put the document bag into the safe, "I just want him to be unable to pay it back."

"If he can pay it back, how can I get his face?"

After hearing this, Erwin seemed to have experienced a spiritual baptism, "So from the beginning, you had no intention of letting him go."

Lance shook his head, "There's no such thing as letting go or not letting go. I've already got the eighteen dollars back, and the rest is just business."

He paused for a moment, took out the two contracts he had just signed with Johnny, and placed them on the table. "For future loan transactions over $100, use these two contracts."

Erwin looked at it for a while and his head hurt. Lance explained to him, "This part is the loan business, and this part is the financial consulting business. The two are not the same thing."

"Any interest in excess of the Usury Act will be added to the consulting fee. Do you understand?"

Erwin has a sharp mind and the matter is not complicated. He understood what Lance said.

“That way, if someone doesn’t pay us back, we can just sue them.”

"Although we also do illegal business, at least when we can make money legally, we try to be legal!"

In the afternoon, Lance had an appointment with a union member. Alvin helped him make an appointment with the union member, a vice president of the dock workers' union named Vaughan.

In the federal government, trade union is a general term. In fact, the specific trade unions are "industry unions" formed by groups of workers working in different industries. For example, shipbuilders have the Shipbuilders' Union.

Steelworkers have the Steelworkers Union, so naturally, longshoremen have the Longshoremen Union.

Vaughan looked to be in his fifties, but he didn't exactly look like a working-class vice president.

The two met in a coffee shop outside the pier and found a secluded spot.

"Mr. Lance, your Wanli firm has seriously disrupted the working order of our dock recently. Many workers have complained to me that you have made the entire dock a mess!"

With thousands of work cards in hand, seven or eight thousand illegal immigrants found jobs at the docks through Lans, which would indeed bring a huge impact to the docks.

Although the anti-immigration storm has not completely passed, it is certainly impossible for the dock to stop and wait for its aftermath to completely subside.

Some companies have suffered huge losses from symbolically stopping operations for a few days, and it is impossible for them to continue to suspend operations.

As a result, a large number of illegal immigrants returned to the docks, which caused many anti-immigration workers who were successfully brainwashed in the movement to complain about this!
"Our home is being invaded by illegal immigrants" became their slogan. The union received many complaints. As the representative of the working class, the trade union organization that shouted "workers' unity" must stand up to safeguard the interests of legal workers.

It became inevitable to have a talk with Lance.

But before they went to find Lance, Lance came to them on his own initiative.

Facing Vaughn's complaints, Lance kept smiling, "Mr. Vaughn..."

"No sir, just call me Vaughn. Adding those titles or appellations is something that only capitalists do."

Although they don't look like working class people, they at least have the keen sense of smell of the working class.

Lance changed the address, "Vaughn, I don't think what we are doing is offensive to traditional local workers."

"You have to know what kind of work they do."

"Boat cleaning, sewer cleaning, chimney cleaning, underwater work..."

"Do you know how dirty, tiring and dangerous these jobs are?"

Vaughan had to nod, "That's true, but..."

Lance didn't let him continue speaking and interrupted him directly, "But now all the dangerous and hard work is done by those...illegal immigrants."

"They've taken on a whole bunch of things that people on the docks don't want to do, keeping our federal workers out of harm's way. This isn't an invasion or chaos!" "It's easy to get them to leave, but can you find enough people to do it?"

"For just over twenty or thirty dollars a month, I work at great risk. I don't think the lives of federal workers should be worth just this little money!"

Vaughn fell into deep thought. The core reason why these illegal immigrants can find jobs is actually because no one is willing to do these jobs.

Whether it is summer or winter, you have to hold a damp cloth that can release salt anytime and anywhere and wipe the deck or the side of the boat vigorously. You can earn at most one dollar for a whole day.

Many boat cleaners earn less than 30 yuan a month.

Many people are either sunburned or frozen, but someone has to do it. If the federal government themselves is unwilling to do it, they can only turn to illegal immigrants.

Seeing that Vaughan's attitude seemed to have changed, Lance put forward his own ideas, "I understand that some workers feel that they are chaotic or have bad habits, but you mentioned it and we have noticed it now. I will strengthen the management of these workers."

"I am also a federal worker. I am actually on the side of the federal workers. Everything I do is just to keep the port running normally."

Lance licked his lips and took a sip of his coffee, "I'm going to donate some money."

Vaughn was thinking about something else and didn't react immediately. "What?"

"I take out 300 yuan from my company's profits every month to help some workers' families who need help, such as those who have temporarily lost their jobs and need to make a living, or those who are sick or injured and have no money for medical treatment."

"We are all workers, at the bottom of society, we should unite!"

Vaughan came to his senses, "Yes, yes, workers should unite to fight against the exploitation and oppression of capitalists!"

He thought for a while and said, "Your idea is very good, Lance, and what you said is not completely unreasonable. I will go back and talk to them."

"As for the donation you mentioned..."

Lance took over the topic, "I don't know all the workers on the docks. I don't know who really needs help and who doesn't."

"So I am only responsible for donating the money, and you have the final say on how to use the money."

Three hundred dollars a month may not sound like much, but it is definitely not a small amount.

Lance even went a step further, "I told the public that I would donate 300, but I will actually give 400. You guys are actually working very hard."

“Not only do you want to work, but you also want to deal with union affairs. I am moved by your noble sentiments.”

"So with this money... you can buy some beef or something else. There is a saying that I think is very true: the body is the capital for striving forward. Only when our bodies are strong can we do more for the workers!"

The wrinkles on Vaughn's face seemed to relax. "Sounds good?" But he was a little hesitant. "Will there be any problems if we do this?"

Lance looked at him with wide eyes, "What could be the problem?"

"Is there any law that prohibits me from donating to a union to help families and workers in need?"

"Or has the federal judiciary deprived us of the right to help each other?"

Vaughn was very moved after hearing this. "You are right, Lance. I think people may have some misunderstandings about you. I will explain it to them."

"And you were talking about norms?"

"Yes!" Lance said with a dry mouth. He took a sip of coffee and gave Vaughn a cigarette. "I plan to give these illegal immigrant workers uniforms and restrict their behavior at the dock."

"You can tell me any ideas you have. As long as they are suitable, I can join in."

"This will allow them to know who is disrupting the peace of the docks and allow people to better monitor the work of illegal immigrants."

"Secondly, it is also a spur and supervision for illegal immigrant workers, letting them know that someone is watching their every word and action, so that they will consider whether it is appropriate before doing something."

Vaughn always felt that there seemed to be something wrong with this matter, but he couldn't put his finger on it. After thinking about it carefully for a while, he felt that it was indeed a good idea.

It is clear at a glance who is an illegal immigrant and who is not.

It is also a warning.

Very good solution!

Even Vaughan thought that if the dock workers could also wear unified clothing, it would look more powerful!

He would discuss the matter with the dock workers' union management when he got back, and while it was unlikely he would get permission, he should at least try.

"Talking to you has given me a lot of new ideas, Lance. You are an interesting person. We should keep in touch more often."

Lance placed the check for four hundred dollars on the table, pressed it with his index and middle fingers, and pushed it over.

Facing Lance's sincere eyes, Vaughn felt that if he didn't accept it, he would be letting down Lance's sincerity!
(End of this chapter)