Still, by your description it was piecework. It was not $45 per hour, even if his speed allowed him to earn the equivalent. And a journeyman is not an entry level position.
He earned the equivalent of 45/hr.
All rockers, tapers, painters of
that time, we’re paid by the sq/ft.
(union or not).
He also passed the journeyman’s test
at the time of his job application.
He didn’t have to start at entry level.
We put up a little over 100 4x12 sheets
per day. At .07/sq ft that comes out to
roughly $350 per day.
By the way, I passed my journeyman’s
test also. The carpenters local
had a room with a bare framed false
wall with faux electrical boxes and
plumbing pipes. 2 sheets of rock
on the floor. The union rep would
time and judge the applicant on
his use of the tools and methods
used to hang the rock. Nailing speed
and proper setting of the nails was
a big part of the test.
That’s how it was back then. I’m sure
the qualifications to become a journeyman
these days, is one would have to start
at entry level, and serve a certain
amount of time, working your way up.