Mood:  cheeky
Now Playing: LIUNA Laborers' International Union of North America
Topic: Union Issues
I have done pretty good as a Union Laborer. It's hard work-I'm not opposed to work-I just feel I deserve decent pay, benefits and working conditions. Since I'm 52, my physical laboring days are in the past, I can plug along, but construction is a young person's occupation. Laborers' is a good career choice for kids so inclined. If they can do the physical work-which is difficult-and take as much training as possible: They'll do good.
Right now, there is some dissent in the AFL-CIO and LIUNA is one of the dissident unions. The "backeast" bosses want to protect the status quo, we want to organize. The Laborers' need more members, the difficulty of the work is such; us old guys are not going to be able to do it.
My Local (Building Laborers' 242) has been really successful in signing up new contractors. The reason is we provide a good product. A skilled workforce, even with higher pay, adds value for a contractor. It's the weirdest thing when I hear so many people claim they deserve high pay, yet construction work is considered unskilled. I've seen the homes of some friends with this attitude. Home Depot should prosecute them for abusing their products.