DIYing; The Right to Work in the Building Trades
Fitzpatrick- We did have a renaissance of quality building in American, during the heyday of the unions. The best construction workmanship occurred before WWII.
The need for postwar housing and the ensuing “Right to Work” legislation of the 50’s in California, diluted union power; with a corresponding gutting of the apprentice programs and plummet in the quality of building. Before, it was the law that a carpenter had to have X-number of years of training to be able to work on a construction site. Now any swinging dick has the “right” to swing a hammer on your house without ever having picked one up in his life. I could show you whole subdivisions in my community constructed by “carpenters” that have never had an hour of training but for what they are learning on your house.
Basically, it's legal in California for someone to be DIYing on your house, for money.
Would you like nurses or car mechanics to have this “right” to work?
The house I lived in before I was married was built in 1920. The tile in the shower was replaced in 1990; a 70-year lifespan. The house I live in now was built in 1990. The shower failed in 1999; nine years later.
Think about your stance on union labor as you contemplate your new tract house in ten years; the beam twisting out of place in your living room, a bedroom flooding due to poor grading, a shower leaking, a window sill rotting. Just wait. Or are you experiencing some of these things right now?
The need for postwar housing and the ensuing “Right to Work” legislation of the 50’s in California, diluted union power; with a corresponding gutting of the apprentice programs and plummet in the quality of building. Before, it was the law that a carpenter had to have X-number of years of training to be able to work on a construction site. Now any swinging dick has the “right” to swing a hammer on your house without ever having picked one up in his life. I could show you whole subdivisions in my community constructed by “carpenters” that have never had an hour of training but for what they are learning on your house.
Basically, it's legal in California for someone to be DIYing on your house, for money.
Would you like nurses or car mechanics to have this “right” to work?
The house I lived in before I was married was built in 1920. The tile in the shower was replaced in 1990; a 70-year lifespan. The house I live in now was built in 1990. The shower failed in 1999; nine years later.
Think about your stance on union labor as you contemplate your new tract house in ten years; the beam twisting out of place in your living room, a bedroom flooding due to poor grading, a shower leaking, a window sill rotting. Just wait. Or are you experiencing some of these things right now?
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