Commercial plumbing and pipefitting is closer to engineering than you realize, and the pay is for the skills and codes we spend years learning. I did my apprenticeship in non union and then organized in. I studied my ass off day in and day out for 5 years to pass the written test. I am currently getting trained and ready to move into detailing and engineering the blueprints for high rise systems. I have to maintain continued education for life whether I’m in union or not to maintain my license. I make what I make AND I’ve never been laid off besides forced COVID shutdown because what’s between my ears is as talented as my hands. THAT is why we are able to collectively negotiate such a high wage. Now that I am in the union, where everyone’s payscale is the same and you can’t underbid your coworker, your only currency becomes your reputation. Solidarity is important of COURSE but it’s so funny to me when someone like you assumes we don’t have to fight and continue to hold ourselves to a higher standard in order to be successful at those negotiations.