The Reasons Behind Drywallers’ Distress

The strike by drywall workers in Orange County should be seen in a larger economic and social perspective. Readers may not be aware that the developers in this county successfully defeated the union for drywallers by the early 1980s.

The consequences of this are clear: In 1992, drywallers are making less than one-third what drywallers made in 1982. To add insult to injury, the drywallers do not have medical benefits nor retirement pensions.

In effect, the developers have passed on the cost of medical care to the taxpayers, because the drywallers, not having enough money on their own, are forced to use the state or county indigent medical care system for themselves and their families.

Labor history in the United States in this century has been very violent, especially compared to Canada and Europe. It is instructive that the labor laws in Canada and Europe are far more supportive of labor rights and organization, as well as wages and benefits, than the United States’.

It is tragic, but not surprising, that a small minority of the striking drywallers have resorted to destruction of developer property during this dispute.

But, faced with the exceedingly low wages, with no benefits or support provided by the developers over the last 10 years to the workers, it is clear that the developers have brought this unfortunate situation upon themselves.

MITCHELL J. FREEDMAN, El Toro