ROANOKE TIMES 

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, March 14, 1991                   TAG: 9103140407
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A-12   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

MANY BAD EFFECTS FROM IMPORTED LABOR

ONE MIGHT wonder if the writer of the March 7 editorial, "Council vs. taxpayers," considered the positive effects on a locale when an employer, regardless of its home base, shows a "reasonable effort to utilize the regional work force." This is the principal proposal presented to City Council by the building and construction trades .

Large construction companies entering the area may find it advantageous to hire locally for numerous reasons. They should find the valley labor force a competitive source of manpower regardless of its union affiliation, or lack thereof. A prequalification procedure on city-funded projects would at the very least assure a more level field for all bidders.

The negative effects of a contractor's importing a work force have been reviewed through extensive documented studies in other parts of the country. Among the effects: (1) Resident tradesmen are denied employment opportunities; (2) state and local governments are denied tax revenues; (3) the local economy is denied the full benefits of construction revenues; (4) state and local social agencies must cope with the increased strain on facilities created by the imported work force; (5) the public and business community end up subsidizing their medical care and retirement through higher health costs and taxes; (6) health coverage for area unemployed workers and their families expires; (7) training and apprenticeship programs for the area's younger work force are curtailed or even terminated.

Members of the building and construction trades are also resident taxpayers. We too are concerned about the welfare of our valley. We are fully aware that a construction company must strive to be competitive in its particular field. But why must this objective always start with and at the expense of the employees? DON FITZGERALD ROANOKE 


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