Construction wages--Mexican and American workers

[raccoon]

In my neck of the woods, lots of construction and road work is done by immigrants, mostly Mexicans.

I'm sure you've all heard somebody say, "Well, Americans won't do the work, so they have to hire Mexicans." I expect most if not all of us here on DU know that's not it; it's that the employers can pay the Mexicans a lot less.

For an average construction worker, how much per hour would an American be paid? How much for an immigrant doing the same work? If anyone out there is working/has worked in construction, please share this information with us.

[goclark]

1. very good question nt

[AllieB]

2. Most of the construction work here is union-at least on major projects

I'm watching a couple of companies work on high-rise condos down the street from my work, and the guys are American.

I'm sure if this area still was not a big union town, there would be undocumented workers doing the job for less. In fact, my co-worker pointed to an article from the local paper in the city where I work, where a developer is trying to skirt around using union labor. Of course, the developer is a Republican. :eyes:

Unions launch preemptive strike against developer
http://www.townonline.com/cambridge/localRegional/view.bg?articleid=455734

"Political connections abound in the scenario.

(The developer) Ognibene was a campaign organizer for former state treasurer candidate Bruce Herzfelder, a Republican, who is also an investor in the Blessed Sacrament project. He also worked as a consultant in the Executive Office of Environmental Affairs, run by Herzfelder's wife, and contributed $100 to Gov. Mitt Romney's 2002 campaign, according to the state's Office for Political and Campaign Finance.

Manning has served as an adviser to Romney."

[Bridget Burke]

8. Strong unions would help everybody....

They could even talk to the new arrivals. Not all of them are fearful--Latin America has a long history of labor movements.

Texas is a Right To Work State, though.

[Greyhound]

3. Not in that field anymore, but my tenant is and I still have friends who

are. In AZ 20(!) years ago a rough carpenter made between $18 and $25 p/hour. Today it's $12 to $14 occasionally going to as much as $18 (the guys making $18 are supervisors)
Heavy equipment operator; mid 80's $22 to $40, today $15 to $20
Sheetrock installer; mid 80's $14 to $18, today $12 to $14

I'll have to ask for the current rates for plumbers, electricians, roofers, etc.

[raccoon]

6. And of course nowadays money doesn't go as far as 20 years ago...

Are you in a "right-to-work" state?

[Greyhound]

7. Of course. The remnants of unions are around but you pretty much

have to be born into them, and they are not interested in helping anybody else around here.

[catnhatnh]

4. Iron worker....

union $28+....good non union $22............

[PsN2Wind]

5. I'm not current on construction pay

but in in 1979 I had to get out of roofing due to serious back problems.At that time as a union journeyman roofer, I was making $11.70/hr, with health insurance, vacation pay, and retirement (which I didn't get vested in). Hard, dirty dangerous at times work that this lightweight gringo did for about fifteen years, nine of them union. This was in Tucson, then Oregon. I doubt that many of the roofers in Tucson and vicinity now make any significant amount more, maybe not as much.