NO cheers, unfortunately.
You’re right! I worked as a field tech in Manhattan’s financial district. The mid to late 80’s is when I started
to see the disdain toward blue collar work and workers.
Some places still do it. Where hubby works they still take apprentices in when needed and they go through 4 years of school work and IIRC something like 300 hours of OTJ training. They get a raise going in (.75¢) and after getting their Journeymans card get something like a $5.50 per hour raise.