I will be taking over all union affairs for the Mafia going forward, dealing primarily in construction but eventually branching out into other areas as well.  Due to my present rank, which at the time of this announcement is Thug, paired with my minimal knowledge of how such things work, I will be easing myself into the position slowly.  While I will of course be dealing with the local unions here in New York, please be aware that I will be heading the construction rackets on a national level too, preferably dealing directly with the establishment owners in the Business Districts throughout the country.

There's a lot of quid pro quo in a job like this.  A lot of greasing palms, but also a lot of getting my own palms greased.  It's kind of an "I scratch your balls, you scratch mine" type of deal.  I'll be bidding on jobs, making the appropriate bribes, funneling illegal money through my labor unions, but also making sure everyone is paid up on their dues and sometimes, sadly, halting construction on various projects and when absolutely needed, shutting businesses down all together.  Not my favorite part of the job but unfortunately a necessary one sometimes.

Keep in mind please that sometimes I may just enter a shop or a business to have a drink or to blow off some steam.  Sometimes it will be to make sure things are up to par.  Maybe to place a giant inflatable rat in front of your door to indicate that things are indeed not kosher.  Who knows in a racket like this!  But all in all I think you'll find that I'm a pleasant person to do business with, so long as we are all doing things according to union policy.  My point is, just because you see me enter your business, don't automatically be fearful.  Even union bosses need a bite to eat, a shot of bootlegged liquor, or just some friendly banter from time to time.

If anyone knows anything about how to run a construction union or how all this stuff works, my office door is open 24 hours a day and I am open to any help or information you can provide to me to figure all of this out.  It will be a learning process for sure, but also a highly profitable one for everyone involved, so long as you are on the right side of things... the labor union side.

UNION MEETING NOTES: OCT 25

I've got a shipment of marble and various stone coming into the ports today, I'm going to dip my toe in that racket as well.  It's not a large shipment so my interests will be pretty much contained to New York businesses for the time being, but I just wanted to put the word out that if you are a business proprietor in the NY Business District, I'll be handling all the marble and stone jobs.  You're all on notice that I'll be stopping by for a friendly word and some shrewd negotiations, maybe even a little bribery if you know what I mean.

Cal winks

For the sake of union transparency I intend to keep you all updated on construction and union affairs here so that everyone is on the same page.

UNION MEETING NOTES: OCT 26

Items on today's docket: The New York Beautification Project.  It's an initiative I intend to spearhead under the guise of improving the city, but it's actually just a scheme to extort money from city officials and shop owners by using my cunning and intimidation abilities.  If this project is successful here in New York, I'll consider expanding out into other cities as well, possibly even recruiting new union members as I go along to strengthen my union empire.

I took the trucks out to survey the New York Marble Cemetery yesterday.  As noted in yesterday's notes I got my hands on a bunch of marble so I figured this would be a good place to test out my union skills.  I couldn't seem to track down any proprietor to shake down, for all I know he's buried in the same cemetery.  But some of these vaults and tombstones really need to go.  The upkeep is terrible, the mood there is just downright dismal, and most of the corpses there are so old and forgotten that no one even visits anymore except for one guy, a mourner named RevolverOcelot.

But certainly we could clear out some of these older tombs are get some more relevant bodies in there.  I mean look at some of the people currently decaying there.  DickGrayson's parents??? DickGrayson was forever ago.  I can't imagine there even being a pair skeletons left at this point.  Why not replace some of the existing tombs with some of my high quality marble and put some fresh meat in there like perhaps poor @AndrewTate who was recently killed by MrDiabolik for no reason?  In with the new, out with the old is one of the many mottos of the New York Beautification Project.  I've got plenty of marble, so if there is any left over we could probably even put a dance floor in or something like that.  Maybe some bars, a few games, stuff like that to liven the place up a bit.

One thing I'd like to add to the record though, I would like to preserve the grave of whoever RevolverOcelot was mourning.  It seems like the decent thing to do.  Maybe even establish a business relationship with him where we both could make a little cash off of this cemetery operation.  I tried extending my hand to him yesterday but I probably caught him at a bad time.  Mostly, I'd like to ask him a few questions regarding unions since this is all new to me and I'm not entirely sure what I'm doing.

UNION MEETING NOTES: NOV 2

Despite a few minor... well let's face it, MAJOR setbacks, all-in-all things are shaping up for the Union.  Let's address some of the high (and low) points.

The Halloween Costume Contest and Party was a major flop. No one attended except for RevolverOcelot who was there anyways and Godfather FrenchieHorn who showed up after it was over.  I was wearing a really great sheriif's costume like they wore in the wild west but sadly no one even got a chance to see it.  The $1,000,000 prize money was awarded to RevolverOcelot.  He declined despite union strong-arming.  This prompted a strike and a work-stoppage at The New York Marble Cemetery.  Due to this strike, the much anticipated New York Beautification project has been put on hold indefinitely.

The silver lining in all of this is that this unfortunately cemetery strike business has seen the Union's membership triple in size with teamsters LiquidFareham and GuybrushThreepwood joining our ranks and supporting the protest outside the cemetery gates!  This was a much needed morale boost despite recent humiliations.  In fact our numbers have increased to such a high number (a 300% increase to be exact) that we are quickly reaching a point where we could probably have a proper election soon, one in which I will probably rig to win myself unless we can get some committee of NON-BIASED mobsters to assist with.  

Aside from that the Union is still accepting membership.  If you are interested, stop by the picket lines in the New York Business District and show your support.  Just look for the cemetery with the giant inflatable rat outside the gates.  We'll be there fighting the good fight.

UNION MEETING NOTES: NOV 7

Some bullet points from today's Union meeting.  Today we've got some good news, and some even gooder news. so it's a good day to be a Teamster.

First off, the protest and strike outside the gates of the New York Marble Cemetery is officially CONCLUDED.  Everyone knows this of course, but I find it important to include in the notes as a matter of record (union terminology).  After a very strenuous and seemingly hopeless negotiation, the opposing side conceded via retirement, leading to a stunning Union victory, which brings me to my next bullet point.

The New York Beautification Project is BACK ON!  A little behind schedule, but the Union works at its own pace, especially when faced with unexpected and uncooperative roadblocks.  The work-stoppage at the cemetery is done, and the labor and construction unions will be back at work immediately, along with some no-show jobs which from what I understand equates to union profit somehow!

Phase 1 in the New York Beautification project will be the construction of a waterslide for the mourning children who visit the cemetery, inspired in part by a conversation I had with my dear Godfather FrenchieHorn.  Cemeteries are often known for not being very fun places to visit, and that is something the Union hopes to change for both visiting parties and residents of The Big Apple.  The Beautification Project will make New York a vibrant tourist hub once again.

Last bullet point, we will be holding Union Elections in the near future, so if it's ever been your dream to run in a Union election, now is your chance!  Contact me if interested, as I am presently the head of the Uniuon unless I lose in the lection which is unlikely.

UNION MEETING NOTES: NOV 5-6
ATTENDEES: Wellerman, LiquidFareham, MrKuku- (RIP)

A meeting was held in New York's own "Josies Bar" after all attendees received an anonymous letter from an unknown sender telling them to gather there. The author of the letter and the motive for sending it is as of yet unknown, but Toodle-oo-Kangaroo is suspected to have been involved.

Pleasantries were exchanged, with some interruptions from Union detractors inbetween.

The unanimous decision was made to renovate "Josies Bar" and turn it into the "John Fareham Memorial All-star Bar". Instead of a place where people drink whisky, eat cornflakes, and spin on their seats it is to become a place where Union Members enjoy fancy cocktails and hold arm-wrestling competitions to determine their place in the pecking order.

Shortly after the meeting concluded, MrKuku- challenged LiquidFareham to a duel twice for unknown reasons. LiquidFareham was unable to accept the duel since hours before his gun was stolen by MrKuku- in a pickpocketing-consent incident.

Less than an hour later MrKuku- was found dead in the streets under mysterious circumstances.