How did we get here?

Here is what a few experts are saying http://w3.newsmax.com/a/aftershockb/video.cfm?PROMO_CODE=CD97-1 B) :) :) B) Deep Down In Florida Where The Sun Shines Damn Near Every Day

Not intending to be condescending...SM; You haven't a clue....By 92' the mess was at full-tilt....In 1977 I tore off roofs for $8/hr on the open market, (private work), & $11/hr on prev wage jobs.

Thank you twill, for your rationale'.... ;)

1992 I tore roofs off for 7.00 an hour. 2011 I start guys out at 10.00 as a labor. If they stay around for a couple of weeks they will get pushed up to 15.00 per hour plus get bonus when they are deserving like the rest of the crew.

What got us into this mess was the fallacy that a college education= easy/good paying work.

That's where we are at now, the dummys that should of been next to us roofing went to college, amassed a huge amount of debt while becoming the next Xbox world champion.

The Illegals are here working because there's a job market for them.

In 2008 what little work I did have I still could not find very many American labors. But, I sure as shit saw a lot more Americans working on roofs and less brown skinned crews.

It appears you are trying to create a consensus. We all have different ideas about why things are the way they are. Truth can be subjective. Because two or more people agree upon a perceived experience of why or how an event is seen or agreed upon doesn't make it true. It is interesting to explore all areas no matter how supposed off subject. B) :) :) B) Deep Down In Florida Where The Sun Shines Damn Near Every Day

BTW; Just because we work in a "resort area" doesn't equal high wages...Quite the opposite, in fact...You pay to live here....We do probably pay more than most. I know, because I get the competitors employees knocking on my door. But we're limited by the "market" of course....Simple/elementary business dynamics.

Somehow, we just can't stick to the actual topic....How is it we have the labor pool today....

I remember 20 & more yrs ago my typical entry-level worker was an 18yr old American, who generally either worked a bit then decided manual labor wasn't for him, or stayed-on as part of a successfull team, many of which have gone on to successfull careers in the constrruction industry as employees and employers.

I attribute the main reasons we can't attract that type of individual today, is due to the low comparitive wages and the predominant illegal, spanish-speaking workforce....

What 18 yr old worth his salt is going to enter a work environment, working for low wages, amongst a herd of contempuous, entitlement-minded illegals?

twill59 Said:

Dont try sugar coating it Chuck. Either cheat like you never have, or wither on the vine.

Great joke BTW :laugh:

As I stated yesterday the white guys are complaining about the Mexican driving down the prices...... :dry:

The blacks that used to work for me complained I was hiring Mexicans to replace them. That was true back in the day. Mexicans were easier and lot more fun to deal with. Hard working dark thirty workman. As to your comment " Don't try to sugar coat it Chuck. Either cheat like you never have. or wither on the vine" Disturbing you think like this. This is your truth twill? Truths are independent of our beliefs; except for propositions that are actually about our beliefs, what is true or false can be independent of what we think is true or false...... B) :) :) B) Deep Down In Florida Where The Sun Shines Damn Near Every Day

Beat Obama with a Cain............ B) :) :) B) Deep Down In Florida Where The Sun Shines Damn Near Every Day

roof_dawg Said: Id love to pay my guys more

I live in a mobile home from 1970 and enjoy my life. I drive a company truck and heat my home & garage with wood I chop myself. Our garden is getting bigger every year, and once I have a couple more slaves...uhh children, I think I can retain my pace of making life better. I make less that $50 G a year, but I do plan on changing that a bit ;)

You can do what ever you want the sky is the limit. The limitation we put on ourselves is the barricade. We are what we think. Health ,Wellness and Wealth all in our reach. Change your thinking change your life. B) :) :) B) Deep Down In Florida Where The Sun Shines Damn Near Every Day

This explains it ........... ... There are several men sitting around in the locker room of a private club after exercising. Suddenly a cell phone on one of the benches rings. A man picks it up, and the following conversation ensues: "Hello?" "Honey, it's me. Are you at the club?" "Yes." "Great! I am at the mall two blocks from where you are. I just saw a beautiful mink coat. It's absolutely gorgeous!! Can I buy it?" "What's the price?" "Only $1,500.00." "Well, OK, go ahead and get it, if you like it that much ... " "Ahhh, and I also stopped by the Mercedes dealership and saw the 2012 models. I saw one I really liked. I spoke with the salesman, and he gave me a really good price ... and since we need to exchange the BMW that we bought last year ... " "What price did he quote you?" "Only $90,000 ... " "OK, but for that price I want it with all the options." "Great! But before we hang up, something else ... " "What?" "It might look like a lot, but I was reconciling your bank account and ... I stopped by the real estate agent this morning and saw the house we had looked at last year for $1.2 million. It's on sale!! Remember? The one with a pool, English Garden, acre of park area, beachfront property ... " "How much are they asking?" "Only $850,000 - a magnificent price...and I see that we have that much in the bank to cover ... " "Well, then go ahead and buy it, but just bid $820,000. OK?" "OK, sweetie ... Thanks! I'll see you later!! I love you!!!" "Bye ... I do too ... " The man hangs up, closes the phone's flap, and raises the phone in his hand and asks all those present,

"Okay... who's phone is this?" B) :) :) B) Deep Down In Florida Where The Sun Shines Damn Near Every Day :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

I'd love to pay my guys more, as well as keep more for myself. Unfortunately most of my competition either does it themselves or has a price that is unbeatable. The latter half is normally not worth the money they do charge. Now that storms have been hitting here in the past few years, my limit on what I can charge has been capped. So basically there is only so much money per roof profit. When you take your average dollar per man hour and find out how hard you have to work for any money to be left over for the owner, it's quickly discouraging for anybody not making decent money. This is based on my career, which is 95% residential tearoffs. As we all know, nobody wants to spend a fortune on their roof

I'm having this issue now. My Dad and I, two other damn good 20+ year men, and two other damn good men are all wanting to make a good living. Unfortunately, I can't pay the last two any more. We kick some serious ass and have all the right equipment to help w/ debris removal. It's just not in the equation for everybody to be making $30/hour even. Like they always told me in school, somebody has got to be a ditch digger.

I live in a mobile home from 1970 and enjoy my life. I drive a company truck and heat my home & garage with wood I chop myself. Our garden is getting bigger every year, and once I have a couple more slaves...uhh children, I think I can retain my pace of making life better. I make less that $50 G a year, but I do plan on changing that a bit ;)

To think that someone is entitled to make 100k a year as an employee working as a roofer is what got us in the financial situation to begin with.

Next your going to tell us that everyone deserves to live in a 3k sf house, 3 vacations a year, 2 Cadillac's and a vette in the garage.

Tom that liberal/socialist thinking of your vail customers has destroyed your perception of reality.

Is there an ignore function of this board? I cant seem to find it.

I doubt if roofing would be paying that much even if the immigrants would have been excluded.According to Adam Smith if wages are high too many people will be doing it and the wages will drop.

You don't believe roofing is a viable career/occupation? It takes $100k +/ a year for a family to operate comfortably these days, don't you think? Why wouldn't a journeyman roofer/carpenter/electrician/plumber, etc.... be worth $100k/yr? I know at the piece prices we pay, as well as some others; If I were 25 & on the roof again, I'd be earninig well in excess of $100k/yr.

Thinking outloud so-to-speak....There's a valid point; The workforce is just plain junk these days, as I would suppose most are not worth more than $25/hr, if one considers production rates these days.