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

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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