How the Defeat of Trade Unionism Gave Rise to Low-Wage Jobs

[Coyotl]

[Bennyboy]

1. I am the poster boy for this...

I fell for the "You'll have more work if you go non union" line in 1975. Tilesetter.

Crossed many picket lines and used the two gate system. Was hired as GM specifically by one contractor to get his company out of the union.


Was a contractor myself and paid good wages, better than most, but no benes.

Then, went back into the union. And after almost 30 years in the trade, was not good enough to be a tilesetter, so had to start back as a finisher. I Could not hang and do quality work like the long time union guys.

Now I am 58, cannot do my trade anymore.

The people I originally joined the union with, and who I later forced out of the shop I ran, are all now retiring. Myself and the guy who's company I got out of the union, will never ever retire. Thanks to the non union people doing his work, he ended up going broke not long after I left the company to start my own (Which has had it's share of ups and downs and various configurations, but was never more than a one bucket shop.)

The union guys can do anything in the trade, whereas I could only do one or two things and had no idea of all the phases of tilesetting.

The union guy were all way faster than the non union guys.

The union guys showed up on Monday, and did not borrow money after being paid on Friday. At the company I ran I had to institute a pay on Monday policy after less than 50% of employees showed for work on Monday and 1/2 of them borrowed money..

Now today, the pay is based on piece work and it actually pays less now than in the 80's.

[whathehell]

2. Thanks for sharing your story. n/t

[Coyotl]

3. The non-union trades had no defense against undocumented worker competition either.

Construction wages are well below the 1980 level to this day due to illegal working.

I left the trades and began teaching college classes. No union there either, plus the lowly adjuncts get paid too little with no benefits or security.

[Bennyboy]

4. Oh you know it....

I remember when the "boat people" came to California. One day a guy, with his entire family was ready to work for less than I was making. then the Hispanics came and dominated the trades.....

My dad was in the union and then adamantly anti union. He gave employees drugs to get more work out of them. He never had one single safety meeting. He hired illegals, anyone he could find to do his work.

My dad died penniless. He was trying to make money the day he died. At 84.

[randr]

5. Anyone remember time and a half for holiday work?