In ’95, after I got out of the Air Force, I worked sixty hour weeks welding. Then 60-72 hour weeks welding, driving a forklift, painting and cutting grass. Then overseas where 60 and 72 hour work weeks were the norm. Then back to the states working rotating 12 hour shifts. Funny thing, with the exception of the first job (where the illegals made more than I) it was all Americans.
Perhaps in the author’s circle American construction workers, American maintenance workers, and American fabricators are unheard of. In the blue-collar world of America they are still plentiful. Employers aren’t complaining about a lack of skilled labor, or a lack of workers willing to work the hard and dirty job, they’re complaining about workers who want to be paid more than dirt.
I’m also going to back up what vashnugal says, from personal experience and observation.
Kalroy
