A living wage for weatherizers

Mar 15, 2010 — The Boston Globe

Mar. 15, 2010 (The Boston Globe delivered by Newstex) --

OVER THE next three years, thousands of Massachusetts homes are going to undergo more than $1.4 billion in state-subsidized weatherization, sealing windows, weather-stripping, and caulking to prevent the waste of energy. The ultimate payoff will be lower energy bills for residents and reduced greenhouse gas emissions in the atmosphere. There could be another payoff as well - seeding an industry of several thousand new blue-collar jobs with good, family-supporting wages and benefits.

To make sure the weatherization program produces quality employment and not minimum-wage, off-the-books jobs, the state and the utilities that oversee the program should guarantee a livable wage and require that the jobs include health benefits. This would be consistent with the purpose outlined in the 2008 law that called for the weatherization program. It gives a priority to projects ``that have economic development, job creation, or job retention benefits.''

There is no question that the construction industry in this state needs the help. According to a report late last year by Andrew Sum, director of Northeastern University's Center for Labor Market Studies, the ratio of unemployed construction workers to job vacancies was almost 65 to one - the highest of any sector studied. The report calls a ratio of that size ``indicative of depression-type labor market conditions.''

The 6,000 jobs created by the state's ambitious weatherization program - which is funded through a fee attached to utility bills - can be career-savers for unemployed construction workers. In setting the wages, the state and utilities should be careful. Too low and the work won't meet quality standards. Too high and fewer homes will get weatherized. No one should expect construction workers to sign on for the $8 hourly minimum in Massachusetts, but nor should ratepayers be obliged to cover the kind of union-mandated excesses that often get attached during good economic times.

A frugal, but respectful, balance is necessary.

Newstex ID: BGL-1035-42885894