Reframing the Story on Construction Jobs

You have painted a real tear-jerker in your article on the house framers here in Southern California (“House Framers’ Regional Strike Faces Long Odds,” May 30). Poor David Vasquez of Santa Ana doesn’t have any insurance or health benefits.

Where were you 12 years ago when the illegal immigrants were taking our jobs in construction, and helping at that time to do away with unions, because union shops couldn’t compete with shops hiring illegal immigrants? Were you one of the liberals screaming: “They’re only taking jobs that no one else wants!”?

I’ve been in construction for 24 years, 23 as a plasterer. I haven’t had insurance or health benefits for over 12 years. (Poor Vasquez.) I’m making much less than I was then and wages keep going down. I’m a citizen, born in California. I don’t remember anyone printing sad stories about us. I worked as a supervisor for a plastering company that had hundreds and hundreds of illegals, but very few U.S. citizens.

Ever wonder what happened to all those citizens who used to be in construction? I don’t see any on tract work anymore. Do you care? Or have you just painted another pretty picture in your mind, that they have all gone on to better jobs?

GARY KLINGE

Huntington Beach