A radio commentary, aired on July 1, on WJBC-AM Bloomington, Illinois, on construction wages.

Last week Operating Engineers Local 649 held a brief strike, as they settled their wages with the local construction companies. I am sure many people were surprised when they heard that the Operators' base wage was $30.69 an hour, plus benefits. How could anyone making that much money strike for more? It must be those greedy unions.

However, there are many things about construction that are very different from other occupations. Number one, a construction worker is a seasonal worker. This past year, the average Operating Engineer, Laborer or Carpenter in McLean County was probably lucky to get 1000 hours of work - barely one-half of the year. In construction, there are no paid holidays or paid vacations. If it rains, snows or there is an economic downturn, there is no work that day and no pay.

Construction wages are traditionally high to keep skilled people loyal to the industry. After three to four years of apprenticeship, a union construction worker is eager to earn that nice hourly rate and accumulate benefit credits. However, it is the nature of construction to be weather related and seasonal. Thus a wise worker makes money in the warm months, stashing away a nest egg for the cold, no work winter.

Construction can also be physically tasking, dangerous and demanding work. Again, decent pay and benefits helps keep workers on the job.

So next time you read about union construction wages, take that rate of pay times 1000 and you'll come close to the average annual income of a union construction worker.   It's a decent living, but no one is getting rich. And remember, those dollars earned are recirculating in our local economy.

This is Mike Matejka on WJBC's Forum.

www.wjbc.com/WJBCForum/tabid/6852/Default.aspx