Editor, The News:
Re: “Building a foundation on trades” (The News, March 6.) I would like to point out that while the union industrial rate for bricklayers is more than $40/hour, the rate for commercial/residential brickayers in town is just more than $32 an hour.
Industrial (bricklaying) work is extremely heavy and dirty and not a pleasant way to make a living.
On the other hand, residential brick installation can be rewarding for the artistic minded. Good luck finding a union residential job, though. You would generally expect less pay for that type of work.
Dean Allington
member of BAC Local 2
(International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers)