Posted on 12/17/2016 12:02:11 PM PST by Timpanagos1
Though it's illegal, brothers Israel and José Martinez have no shortage of work, moving from one construction job to the next in the ongoing building boom of Central Texas. They’ve worked on homes in affluent communities along the Upper Colorado River and renovated sprawling apartments in North Austin. They were on a crew that erected a new health center at a high-end retirement community, and as expert masons have built luxury pools, interior chimneys and backyard grilling stations.
Their compensation often falls below minimum wage. They might receive just $90 for a 14-hour workday, or about $6.42 an hour — and that’s when they do get paid. On more than a few occasions, the brothers have gone days, weeks and even months without receiving payment for their grueling labor.
In all their years in Texas, Israel and José — pseudonyms, since both asked that their real names not be published — have experienced a lot. One thing they say they haven’t seen: U.S. citizens doing the heavy lifting on construction projects.
“We’ve never seen any Americans carrying cement, picking up stone, working from sunup to sundown,” Israel said. “Never.”
(Excerpt) Read more at texastribune.org ...
Construction used to be all American. Sorry but a lot of the work that is being done today is sub par. These “contractors” are responsible for putting American companies out of business, many of them multi-generation companies.
Living in AZ I have seen these bosses take dozens of workers down to get their drivers licenses and as soon as they get them they hand it over to the boss.
The amusing thing is that so many believe they’re using their real names and that they can somehow be tracked. Duh. They’re here illegally with no documentation. They make it all up, with a stolen SS number. If they get caught, say for driving drunk and crashing head on into another car, or for some odd reason their tax refund check gets questioned, off they go into another made up identity.
“Really????...you get up to $275 unemployment a week in Florida.”
That’s because of all the illegal aliens taking all the construction jobs and forcing Americans onto onto Unemployment.
If not for the illegals, those jobs would be available to Americans and they would earn the market rate of pay which is $6.42 an hour.
“They might receive just $90 for a 14-hour workday, or about $6.42 an hour”
Perhaps the very unskilled - but there were some damn good illegal plumbers, electricians, and others that built my house. They certainly made a lot more than $6.42.
As to Americans doing that work at those pay scales - yep, they would do it, if we actually stopped paying them to sit home and play video games.
You got it.
You have 2 families...”Joe Legal” and “Jose Illegal”. Both families have 2parents, 2 children and live in California.
“Joe Legal” works in construction, has a Social Security Number, and makes $25.00 per hour with
payroll taxes deducted....”Jose Illegal” also works in construction, has “NO” Social Security Number, and gets paid $15.00 cash “under the table”.
Joe Legal...$25.00 per hour x 40 hours $1000.00 per week, $52,000 per year.
Now take 30% away for state federal tax, Joe Legal now has $31,231.00
Jose Illegal...$15.00 per hour x 40 hours $600.00 per week, $31,200.00 per year. Jose Illegal pays no taxes... Jose Illegal now has $31,200.00
Joe Legal pays Medical and Dental Insurance with limited coverage $1000.00 per month, $12,000.00 per year. Joe Legal now has $19,231.00
Jose Illegal has full Medical and Dental coverage through the state and local clinics at a cost of $0.00 per year. Jose Illegal still has $31,200.00
Joe Legal makes too much money is not eligible for Food Stamps or welfare. Joe Legal pays for food $1,000.00 per month, $12,000.00 per year. Joe Legal now has $7,231.00
Jose Illegal has no documented income and is eligible for Food Stamps and Welfare. Jose Illegal still has $31,200.00.
Joe Legal pays rent of $1,000.00 per month. $12,000.00 per year. Joe Legal is now in the hole minus (-) $4,769.00
Jose Illegal receives a $500 per month Federal rent subsidy. Jose Illegal pays rent. $500.00 per month. $6,000.00 per year Jose Illegal still has $31,200.00
Joe Legal now works overtime on Saturdays or gets a part time job after work.
Jose Illegal has nights and weekends off to enjoy with his family.
Joe Legal’s and Jose Illegal’s children both attend the same school. Joe Legal pays for his children’s lunches while Jose Illegal’s children get a government sponsored lunch. Jose Illegal’s children have an after school
ESL program. Joe Legal’s children go home.
Joe Legal and Jose Illegal both enjoy the same Police and Fire Services, but Joe paid for them and Jose did not pay.
And welders, damn good welders, seen em go months without busting an xray.
And if they file taxes they get a child tax credit for those 10 dependents. And food stamps, etc.
“Should be easy enough for our politicians to crackdown on the employers, but I guess that would make for too many uncomfortable moments at the country club.”
Luckily, President-Elect (LOVE THAT!) Trump has plenty of his OWN Country Clubs. ;)
It’ll be an amazing thing to witness if all of these shenanigans are stopped.
It kills me how many people, even on this site think those brought here as children should be allowed to stay. They have no allegiance to our Country, don’t respect our laws or customs. They only want to suck up these generous American benefits and make America Mexico again. And obama gave them a two year extension so they could produce an anchor baby of their very own.
Round them up and ship them the hell out of here!!
The big lie is the bald faced one that liberals and media spout that illegals ADD to our GDP and are a net plus. Horseshit.
Agree- and they’re bringing in drugs, crime, third world diseases and costing us billions in welfare. THIS MUST BE STOPPED!
Since government spending is part of the GDP formula they must be talking about the government spending on illegals increasing the GDP. That, and the mandatory spending on healthcare, have been the only growth during Obama’s reign.
Wow! Impressive. Lot’s of people on our side don’t have enough direct contact with these people to see why they are so in demand by businesses that cannot afford mistakes. We just look down on them...when we need to look down on the policies that get them here illegally and protect them.
You’re probably right! SNAP, EITC, Section 8, OsamaCare, AFDC, OsamaPhones, Medicaid, TANF, and all the rest of the umpty-dozen entitlement programs out there.
“Employ illegals?
You go to federal jail, and ALL of your assets are forfeited, period.
Enforce that, and illegals jumping the border goes to zero.”
I cannot express enough how much I’d like to see that enforced. I’ve lost countless jobs to illegals AND work for much less than wages would be if the friggin wetbacks didn’t continue to keep wages so very low. All contractors that hire illegals need to have massive fines imposed and/or jail time.
From what I’ve heard some (maybe many or most) of these crews are gangs, they refuse to hire Americans.
*******************
If you speak English you won’t get hired because you can’t understand the rest of the crew.
There are still plenty of degreed Americans in the oil industry in Houston looking for work.
“when we need to look down on the policies that get them here illegally and protect them.”
Just for clarification, are you saying we need to protect those who are here illegally?
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