Here is an inflation calculator I found which might be handy:
For one trade in housing construction, $10.00 an hour was a good wage non union in California in 1980. So, to stay even, one would have to make $27.41.
However, I have seen adds in the paper, before the crash, for around $16.00 an hour.
And that's if you are GOOD.
I believe that quite a few illegals were working for less, but that's not a hard fact.
Union scale in that trade in 1981 added up to $16.00 and change an hour if health and welfare were added in (I believe the wage by itself was $11.00 +)
I believe scale (wage only) in 2005 was about $25.00.
Let's say wage only was $11.35 hr... $24.26 in 2005, so union kept up with wage only...
Non - Union from 1980 to 2005 @ $9.50 hr - 2005 would be $23.57 to stay even. That's a $7.57 hr difference.
It doesn't have a date on it but it's in California... Refers to Union Scale and non union wage:
I could be wrong, but I believe the non union wages cited are a tad high.
CA Wages, Brick Masons
union median range
New, no experience: $10.00 $9.00 – $10.00
New, experienced: $17.00 $12.00 – $30.00
3 yrs+ experience: $28.00 $25.00 – $38.00
CA Wages, Concreete & Terrazzo Finishers
nonunion median range
New, no experience: $12.08 $11.51 – $12.81
New, experienced: $16.97 $13.42 – $19.18
3 yrs+ experience: $19.46 $14.14 – $22.05
union median range
New, no experience: NA NA
New, experienced: $22.00 $19.00 – $23.00
3 yrs+ experience: $23.00 $21.00 – $26.00
CA Wages, Plasterers & Stucco Masons
union median range
New, no experience: $10.00 $6.00 – $20.00
New, experienced: $18.00 $13.00 – $20.00
3 yrs+ experience: $24.00 $20.00 – $24.00
Apprentices start at 65% of the basic journey rate and receive a 5% increase each six months until they reach 90% of the journey rate, as the apprentice completes the necessary course work and on-the-job training.
http://www.proteusinc.org/jobseekvid...eer/mason.html