That really cheeses me off! My dad worked as a laborer 15 years ago. Even with the union he didn't make the equivalent (even by comparing the amounts to today's rates).
Laborers(union) were getting just about $20/hr plus fringes in California 20 years ago but wages were/are quite a bit lower in Arizona, it being a right to work state.
The illegals have kept construction wages stagnent for the last 20 years which if you figure in inflation construction workers have taken a hugh hit.