I have been a plumber my whole life. The Mexicans kind of took over the trades in CA. They are smart and work hard. They didn't stay working for dirt cheap though so didn't force wages down to much. Didn't affect the plumbing trade to much. They are all legal. I worked non union my whole life but when the economy crashed I joined the union. They still had a ton of big commercial work. Excellent pay and benefits. But then that started bottoming out. Work six months, get laid off six months. I was laid off all of 2010 and 2011. Worked almost all of 2012 and had a major break down Nov. 2012. Been off since and am trying to get disability. It all started in 2008 when the company I worked for for 11 years closed up shop. Small shop and I pretty much ran it. All but the financials. He would put up with me missing three months a year due to depression. I don't know how he put up with it. I wouldn't answer the phone or the door for a month. I would let him know I was down and I didn't know how long one time and that was it. He would friggen call everyday. He put up with a lot. The real world won't put up with that.

So yeah the anxiety probably started then in 2008 and kept getting worse. Suicidal depression with anxiety with paranoid delusions for six months straight doesn't make for a good employee and that is how things are now.

Its good to be a brick layer.....maybe you are a free mason...lol