As president and business manager of the Cement and Concrete Workers District Council, Scopo controlled three chapters in New York City of the Laborers' International Union of North America. These locals included thousands of laborers who worked on big constructions projects in the New York area. Scopo used his position to extort money from cement contractors in New York in return for big contracts and labor peace. These payments went to four New York Cosa Nostra families in an arrangement called the "Concrete Club."