Union Wage Scales Cause Sprawl

Union wages are 50% more when building in Philadelphia as compared to the suburbs. As a result, no new-housing construction in Philadelphia.

1 minute read

August 13, 2001, 6:00 AM PDT

By Chris Steins @planetizen

"The wage rates for union workers who build houses in Philadelphia are as much as 50 percent higher than the rates the same unions charge in the suburbs.The long-standing but little-known wage disparity, combined with union domination of the city building trades, increases the overall construction cost of a new single-family house in Philadelphia by 30 percent when compared with the suburbs, according to interviews, labor contracts, and cost data obtained by The Inquirer."

Thanks to Chris Steins

Read the full story: Building-union pay far higher in city than in suburbs

Sunday, August 12, 2001 in The Philadelphia Inquirer

Housing Pennsylvania

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