Empire of Shadows

Taiwan Novel Network → 𝒕 𝒘 𝒌 𝒂 𝒏 . 𝒄 𝒐 𝒎

In the Federation, the union's money mainly comes from two sources.

One is social donations. For example, the capitalists on the docks want to maintain a close cooperative relationship with the union. The key to building and maintaining this relationship lies in donations.

However, this is not always absolute. There are always some companies that are not bound by ordinary rules, or do not believe they need to donate, because they provide jobs and have already done what they should for society.

Not every company donates every month. Federal capitalists reject extortionate forced donations, but on average, they donate about 1,800 to 2,000 yuan to the union per month each year.

The second source of income is the membership dues paid by the workers. Considering that the income of dockworkers is not high in the overall industry, the membership dues of the dockworkers' union are 2% of the basic salary each month.

For a ship cleaner with a monthly salary of thirty-three yuan, the membership fee he needs to pay each month is sixty-six cents.

Different industry unions charge different membership fees, and some states allow higher fees, but some states have strict requirements on the amount of fees charged.

Generally speaking, ordinary industries are between 2% and 3%. For example, automobile unions with higher wages generally charge 3% to 5% of the basic salary.

The entire Gold Harbor City has two large ports. Currently, the main port of Gold Harbor is the Gold Harbor near the union, and the other is New Port.

The two ports together have eleven docks, with approximately seven thousand workers currently counted and registered.

The more than three thousand work cards in Lance's hands, and some who work here by obtaining work cards through other means, are not included in the union membership list, because most of these people who hold the work cards are not dockworkers themselves.

Even if they are, after they sublet their work cards, they no longer continue to pay membership dues.

Seven thousand people, calculated at sixty-six cents per person per month, the union's monthly income is about five thousand yuan, which is very stable.

Doesn't this money seem like a lot?

But the problem is that the dockworkers' union has multiple offices and departments, with a core team of more than seventy people, and occasionally temporarily expands its staff.

The ordinary staff among these seventy-plus people earn forty-two yuan a month, which has reached the average income of Gold Harbor City.

Further up, there are office directors and deputy directors, the directors and deputy directors of several union departments, and a chairman and three vice-chairmen, whose salaries account for about four thousand yuan.

That is to say, after paying salaries, the dockworkers' union can only have about three thousand yuan left each month.

This does not include various daily losses, work expenses, and the expenses of the workers' club. The monthly surplus is about one thousand yuan.

If there are no workers' amateur activities and the club is closed for two fewer days, then there will be more surplus; otherwise, there will be less.

They are also very clear about the problem of insufficient union income, which is that the membership fee standard is relatively low, and the issue of illegal immigrants.

A large number of illegal immigrants flood the docks. In fact, there are currently about twelve thousand workers working here, and more than five thousand are non-union members or illegal immigrants.

Illegal immigrants account for the vast majority of them.

If this part also pays membership fees, then the union would have an additional income of three thousand yuan per month. If the 2% membership fee could be adjusted to 3%, then at least another five thousand yuan could be added each month.

But it's difficult.

Chairman Scott glanced at the accountant, "How much money do we have in the account now?"

The accountant is a thirty-six-year-old married woman, a little chubby, "About less than three thousand yuan."

Chairman Scott frowned, "So little?"

He recalled, "I remember there were more than 20,000 yuan in the account when we summarized in the first half of the year, right?"

"Where did all this money go?"

The accountant's tone was a little stiff. She felt that Chairman Scott was questioning her, "Have you forgotten the two months of marches? Many people were injured, and they also lost their source of income due to the temporary suspension of work. Our money was used in these areas."

"If you want to check the accounts, I can move the account books over, but you have to arrange two people to help me. I can't move them by myself!"

Chairman Scott patted his forehead, "Sorry, I forgot about this."

The anti-immigration demonstration lasted for only twenty-odd days, but from the outbreak to the end, it took almost two months in total.

During this period, the docks were in chaos, and many people were injured. The capitalists refused to handle it according to the work-related injury plan.

Social insurance does not include accidental injury insurance, so these injured workers cannot get compensation for medical expenses and can only ask the union for help.

This is also one of the union's jobs, although the cost is not much.

This one gets dozens, that one gets one or two hundred, but there are too many workers on the docks. Fortunately, there were no major casualties, but the funds in the union's account were also gone in a very short time.

Being able to leave two or three thousand yuan for emergencies is already their greatest effort.

Only at this time can they understand why the insurance manager refused to insure them.

Some workers deliberately broke their fingers and ran over to ask for five yuan. They turned around, found a piece of gauze to wrap their fingers, and didn't care about it anymore. There are many such people.

Chairman Scott rubbed his temples, "What if we ask the capitalists to pay?"

He looked at Vaughn. As the vice-chairman, Vaughn's main job is to maintain contact with some capitalists.

Vaughn shook his head, "More than seven thousand workers belong to different companies. We can't convince these companies to do this."

"Adding it up, it may require ten thousand yuan or more. Do you think they are willing to pay this money?"

Chairman Scott's head kept hurting, "It's all that... Lance's fault."

"I remember there were some reports about him and his firm. Have you talked to him yet?"

Vaughn nodded, "I plan to talk to you about this separately."

Chairman Scott looked at him. After the two looked at each other for a moment, he temporarily skipped the topic.

"We'll talk later."

He looked at the others, "You also think about it and see if there are any good solutions, or contact those capitalists on the docks."

"See if they are willing to pay."

"After all, after the workers put on uniform work clothes, they will indeed... become better-looking."

Several ministers showed faint smiles, but quickly restrained themselves.

Just looking good, those capitalists will not pay.

Chairman Scott also seemed to realize this and waved his hand impatiently, "Let's end the meeting. Vaughn, come to my office."

The two entered Chairman Scott's office. After closing the door, Vaughn reminded him, "That twenty yuan."

Chairman Scott was slightly stunned, "Was it given by Lance?"

Vaughn had a speechless expression, "I remember I told you about this."

Chairman Scott stroked the armrest of the chair, "This is not easy to handle. I remember he also donated three hundred yuan."

Vaughn nodded, "This money is still in a separate account."

Because Lance said that this was donated to those who needed help, not to the union, so it would not enter the union's public account.

Who exactly this three hundred yuan was given to, how it was given, and how much was given, they could choose not to provide this information if Lance didn't want to know.

In other words, except for them, the chairman and vice-chairman, even the accountant didn't know that there was actually a separate small account of three hundred yuan.

With this money, plus the twenty yuan nutritional subsidy that had already been received, Chairman Scott found it difficult to stand on a fair and neutral attitude when considering the issues of Lance and his company.

"Has the report against his company been resolved?"

He had taken so much from people, he had to show something, even if he had just planned to use this matter to make things difficult for Lance to vent his anger.

Vaughn nodded, "It's all resolved."

Chairman Scott patted the armrest, "If it can't be promoted, then forget about it."

He felt a little regretful. In the federal union system, city unions are only the lowest-level union organizations. Further up, there are the "State Dockworkers' Union (some states)", the "Federal Dockworkers' Union," and the "International Dockworkers' Union."

Now the International Dockworkers' Union is just a decoration. The number of countries responding to them is pitifully small, but the Federal Dockworkers' Union is an organization that holds greater real power.

It controls the working conditions of dockworkers throughout the Federation. If Chairman Scott can launch a dockworkers' strike in Gold Harbor City with the approval of the upper echelons,

Then the President of the Federal Dockworkers' Union can launch a collective strike of dockworkers throughout the Federation!

He is only in his early fifties. He also wants to go to a higher place to see the scenery above, but there are too many people who want to go up. There are so many cities with ports and docks in the entire Federation, and everyone wants to go up.

It's just that he is more likely to succeed than others. After all, this is Gold Harbor City, but even if it is easier, he always has to come up with convincing abilities.

If this matter is managed well, it may be an opportunity, but now it seems that there are no clues.

He himself is very clear that the capitalists will definitely not agree to make new work clothes for the workers.

Moreover, there is no law to support the union in doing so. He can only persuade others to agree and then pay, not force them to pay.

As for launching a major strike because they are unwilling to take out money to make new work clothes, unless he wants to be investigated, he will not even consider it.

Strikes are indeed a powerful weapon against capitalists, but they cannot be promoted casually. They must be at the right time, otherwise it is a crime!

While Chairman Scott was contemplating his chances for advancement, and Vaughn felt he had more than earned the money Lance had given him, the dockworkers were also discussing the new work uniforms.

"Have you inquired about it?" several workers asked while taking a break from tightening screws on the dock. One of them, who seemed to have a bit of authority, inquired.

A younger worker next to him nodded. "I found out. These were issued by the office that got them their work cards, not by the company or the dock."

"Issued by the office?" the strong worker asked, astonished. "Is the boss of that office some kind of philanthropist?"

"Ask them if we can join!"

A free set of work clothes and two pairs of gloves – if you bought these things in a store, it would cost about one and a half dollars. But now they're giving them away for free.

And they heard that if the clothes and gloves wear out, you can take the worn ones to exchange them for new ones directly.

Why do some manual laborers work with their butts exposed?

This is not a joke. Many workers on heavy industrial production lines wear only their underpants, or even work with their butts exposed.

On the one hand, it's because the production workshops are too hot. Various heating equipment and steam can quickly soak their clothes with sweat.

On the other hand, it's also a consideration of the problem of clothing wear and tear. Especially on docks like this seaside, or in production workshops with corrosive chemicals, it's normal to change clothes every two or three months.

For rich people, a little over a dollar is nothing. It's not even enough for a drink at a bar.

But for ordinary working-class people, if they can save it, they will definitely be willing to do so.

This is actually a very interesting phenomenon. They would rather spend forty cents on a drink at a bar than spend a dollar on a new or second-hand set of clothes for themselves. The consumption habits of the Federation people are always so strange.

Just then, a worker wearing a work uniform, who had just finished urinating, passed by. He "Hey"-ed, startling the worker.

He looked around and saw the group of people.

He already wanted to leave. Some of the local Federation workers on the docks were very bad, and would bully them for fun, just purely bullying them, pushing them around, or giving them a few punches, forcing them to lie on the ground and imitate a puppy urinating.

Never overestimate the bottom line of humanity in terms of morality, and never underestimate the pure evil in people's hearts.

The worker didn't want to go over. He pressed the tips of his fingers against his chest, looked at the group, and said, "Me?"

The strong worker nodded. "Of course, it's you. What's your name?"

"Jamie," Jamie said, standing in place, feeling a bit of a scalp tingle, but now he had to bite the bullet and continue.

He really shouldn't have gone to the toilet to pee. Wouldn't it have been fine to just find a seaside spot?

He vowed that he would never do that again!

Hopefully, he won't suffer this time!

The strong worker beckoned to him. "Hey, Jamie, let's get acquainted. My name is Johnny. Come over here, I have something I want to ask you."

The workers around him were all strong, and they all had wrenches in their hands.

As a disadvantaged group on the dock, Jamie was also an illegal immigrant. He didn't dare to resist much, so he could only lower his head and walk over.

After getting closer, Johnny felt his clothes and looked surprised. "The quality is great, a bit like canvas, a bit like denim, it should be very sturdy."

When the others heard this, they all reached out to feel it. They worked every day and could tell the quality of the fabric.

Maybe it's not the most comfortable to wear, but for the workers, it's the most practical!

Because sturdiness not only means wear and corrosion resistance, but also represents a lower chance of injury!

With this kind of fabric, even if you cut it with a knife, you might not be able to cut the clothes open, let alone cut the skin.

The most common thing on the docks is all kinds of accidental injuries, being hit, scratched, pulled, etc., and a bloody mark appears easily.

If you have such a set of clothes, it will obviously make you safer.

The men marveled, touching Jamie all over, even reaching into his pockets and taking away three five-cent coins.

Seeing that he was finally being robbed, he looked a little sad.

He only earns sixteen dollars a month, barely enough to ensure food and clothing, but now he's still being robbed.

Although it's not much money, it's his lunch and dinner money, which means he'll have to go hungry today.

"Can I go now?" he sighed silently, eventually choosing to give in.

He is an illegal immigrant, and if he calls the police, he will definitely be the first to suffer. This is the primary problem faced by illegal immigrants: their losses will be greater than the other party's.

And calling the police might not be useful. Fifteen cents, the police's fuel costs for dispatching might be more than that.

Johnny cursed "poor ghost," then grinned and put the money in his pocket, and then said something that Jamie couldn't believe.

"Take off your clothes."

Jamie looked at him, a little at a loss. "I'm sorry..."

"I said, take off your clothes."

Jamie shook his head. "Johnny, these clothes..."

A punch landed directly on Jamie's face, causing him to stagger and fall to the ground.

The workers around Johnny still had that grinning look, just like they did in middle school.

"This is the third and last time, don't force me to make everyone watch you run around the dock with your butt exposed."

"Now, take off your clothes," his face was no longer smiling, replaced by an unsettling ferocity.

Jamie acted as if he hadn't heard, until someone approached him and reached out to unbutton his clothes.

He waved his arms to prevent them from succeeding. "I'll fight you!"

Several strong men surrounded him and kicked him, beating him until he had no ability to resist. Then they stripped off his clothes and left happily.

They kicked him many times, but the clothes were not damaged at all. Sure enough, they were good clothes.

About three or four minutes later, Jamie's friend saw that he hadn't returned and called his companion to come and find him.

They saw Jamie wiping away tears next to a rope pile at Pier One.

"Jamie, what's wrong?"

The concern of his companions made him unable to suppress the grievance in his heart. Discrimination, harm, humiliation, all the injustices he had encountered since coming to the Federation, all erupted in an instant!

He cried loudly, telling the two what he had encountered. The two were furious and clenched their fists tightly.

But soon, one of them became dejected again.

Being bullied by local dockworkers is something they often encounter.

It used to be like this.

Walking along well, being stopped by several people, demanding that they take out the money in their pockets, or being humiliated by them.

This has become a routine!

The two helped Jamie, who was only wearing underwear and was bruised all over, back to their working core area. Many people came over to ask with concern, and then began to feel angry or helpless.

No one mentioned revenge, or put forward any valuable ideas. At this time, the only thought in many people's minds was, if it doesn't work, forget it.

It's not the first time, why bother?

But there are always people who are unwilling to accept such a result!

"This matter cannot be left like this!" someone suddenly said, gritting their teeth!

Some small changes in the update. It used to be 3 chapters of 3k words per day, adding up to 9k words. Now it has been changed to 2 chapters per day, each with 5k words, which is 1k words more than before. The reason is that the average order is not high, and it has not yet been included in the essence, so without changing the number of updated words and improving it, reducing the number of updated chapters will make the average order look a little better, in order to increase the exposure opportunities in the later period. Notice to this effect.