Why construction workers strike (don’t receive sick pay, vacation pay, or holiday pay)

[Omaha Steve]

http://blogs.kansascity.com/unfettered_letters/2009/04/why-construction-workers-strike.html

April 12, 2009
Why construction workers strike

Mary Dannaldson (4/4, Letters) says shame on the striking construction workers. Here’s why workers strike for a wage increase:

Construction workers don’t receive sick pay, vacation pay or holiday pay. You get paid eight hours for eight hours worked. When your project is over, for most workers it means a layoff, and you hope your local has a good job waiting for you.

Since most construction jobs start outside, if the weather should turn bad — rain, snow, lightning — you get sent home for safety reasons. As soon as you clear the gate, your pay stops. If that weather stays bad for a day or a week you do not get paid for the full week, only for the hours worked.

During these bad times, jobs are hard to find for union people. From 1980 to 1983 we averaged 15 months of work, and it’s happening again. No work, no pay.

Your wage may be $25 an hour, but if you work only seven or eight months of the year — you do the math.

John L. Delgado
Pipefitters Local 533, retired
Kansas City

[stray cat]

1. Its a tough unpredictable profession

but also for the construction company owners who have the same risks including not getting paid after completion of a job- I've had friends go bankrupt with construction companys. Consequently I don't know how a strike will get money from a broke construction company in some instances.

[Warpy]

2. Nobody organizes unless the bosses are bastards

and nobody strikes unless those bosses are intransigent bastards.

Striking is always a last resort. Strikers are hurt much worse than the bosses are.

I can cross a picket line about as easily as I can sprout wings and fly to France.

Good luck to the strikers.

[fasttense]

3. Minimum wage workers like waiters, waitresses, and house cleaners

etc don't get sick pay, vacation pay, or holiday pay either. We get to work non-stop and then bosses wonder why their turnover rate is so high.

[Omaha Steve]

4. EFCA would make it easy for minimum wage earners to make a living wage

I hope you call your Senator today!