Controversial building industry and underworld figure George Alex would leave business documents in a drawer in his toilet for a union official to collect, but never cash, a royal commission has heard.
Construction union official Darren Greenfield was presented with a series of text messages between himself and Mr Alex at the trade unions royal commission on Friday.
Mr Greenfield, an organiser with the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU), said he met with Mr Alex up to 40 times over two years, at his house, apartment and hotels, to chase payments in arrears for workers in scaffolding companies in which Mr Alex was involved.
He denied ever receiving cash.
Senior counsel assisting the commission Sarah McNaughton SC showed Mr Greenfield a text message he received from Mr Alex on June 7, 2013 which had a full stop, a space and the words "toilet first draw" (sic).
Ms McNaughton asked Mr Greenfield if the cryptic message was "an indication to you to go to the toilet and look in the drawer and find money" at Mr Alex's house.
"No, that's not the case at all, " Mr Greenfield said.
"He'd leave documents there."
Mr Greenfield said he picked up documents relating to Mr Alex's scaffolding companies from the handbasin, letterbox or the "front table on the porch".
"He'd leave them wherever."
The court also saw an April 24, 2013 message from Mr Alex to his wife which read: "1K to wisam. 2500 to Darren. Give Michael Couts 1000. Keep 500."
Mr Greenfield sent a text message to Mr Alex that evening saying "Thanks mate".
"Did you pick up $2500 in cash from George Alex on that afternoon?" Ms McNaughton asked.
"No I did not," Mr Alex replied.
Another message, on June 21, 2013, from Mr Alex to a man called John read: "Can you separate it please. 2500 each. Leave 2500 in the toilet under sink."
A message to another man, Tommy Mitchell, eight minutes later that day said: "PL go to toilet under the sink".
Mr Greenfield denied ever receiving money from Mr Alex and said he met frequently with Mr Alex because he was continuously dealing with issues around unpaid entitlements for workers.
"There's continuous things with this mob," he said.
CFMEU whistleblower Brian Fitzpatrick testified to the commission last year that Mr Greenfield had made a telephone death threat against him after he complained that the union was giving favourable treatment to companies run by Mr Alex.
Mr Greenfield followed stood-aside CFMEU NSW secretary Brian Parker into the witness stand on Friday.
Mr Parker has denied any close relationship with Mr Alex, despite phone calls played at the commission of the two organising lunches, meetings at Mr Alex's apartment and text messages discussing responses to stories in the media.
Ms McNaughton has told the court Mr Alex is an undischarged bankrupt who appears to be involved with labour hire and other companies that have features consistent with phoenix companies.
The commission is investigating why the CFMEU had agreements with companies apparently associated with Mr Alex that have a poor record of survival.
Mr Alex is expected to appear at the commission next week.
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