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Subject: "The sweet irony of unions asking for exemptions from $15/hr wages" Previous topic | Next topic
GameTheory
Member since Jun 06th 2012
1642 posts
Mon Jun-01-15 10:48 AM

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"The sweet irony of unions asking for exemptions from $15/hr wages"


          

http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-los-angeles-minimum-wage-unions-20150526-story.html

L.A. labor leaders seek minimum wage exemption for firms with union workers
Rusty Hicks

Rusty Hicks, head of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, says firms with unionized workers should have the "freedom" to set their own pay rates. (Glenn Koenig / Los Angeles Times)

By PETER JAMISON, DAVID ZAHNISER AND EMILY ALPERT REYES contact the reporters

Labor leaders, who were among the strongest supporters of the citywide minimum wage increase approved last week by the Los Angeles City Council, are advocating last-minute changes to the law that could create an exemption for companies with unionized workforces.


The push to include an exception to the mandated wage increase for companies that let their employees collectively bargain was the latest unexpected detour as the city nears approval of its landmark legislation to raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2020.

For much of the past eight months, labor activists have argued against special considerations for business owners, such as restaurateurs, who said they would have trouble complying with the mandated pay increase.

But Rusty Hicks, who heads the county Federation of Labor and helps lead the Raise the Wage coalition, said Tuesday night that companies with workers represented by unions should have leeway to negotiate a wage below that mandated by the law.

"With a collective bargaining agreement, a business owner and the employees negotiate an agreement that works for them both. The agreement allows each party to prioritize what is important to them," Hicks said in a statement. "This provision gives the parties the option, the freedom, to negotiate that agreement. And that is a good thing."


Coalition representatives said the proposed exemption would ensure the city complies with federal laws which they say give collective bargaining agreements precedence over local ordinances. They also contend that it would keep L.A.'s ordinance consistent with previous city wage laws.

Some business leaders criticized the proposal, however, calling it ironic in light of union leaders' past opposition to special considerations for some employers.

"I'd refer everyone back to the statements of labor leaders over the past seven months that no one deserves a sub-minimum wage," said Ruben Gonzalez, senior vice president for public policy and political affairs with the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce, which opposed the minimum wage increase passed by the City Council.

Gonzalez said the change sought by labor officials could pressure companies into letting employees unionize as a way to seek relief from the mandated wage hike.

"Once again, the soaring rhetoric of helping the working poor is just a cover for city government acting as a tool of organized labor," he said.


The City Council voted last week to gradually increase the hourly minimum wage to $15 over the next five years. Since then, City Atty. Mike Feuer has prepared an ordinance that would put the increases into effect. The council's Economic Development Committee is scheduled to review the language on Friday.

Last fall, the council approved an ordinance increasing the minimum wage at large hotels to $15.37 per hour. That law says that provisions of the hotel wage hike may be waived in workplaces that have collective bargaining agreements.







So basically, we all know $15 is too high, but the 2% of all americans who are even on MW are going to get screwed regardless.

Welp, we need to start asking why companies don't pay more. You can't just raise the wage floor out of poverty.

  

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The sweet irony of unions asking for exemptions from $15/hr wages [View all] , GameTheory, Mon Jun-01-15 10:48 AM
 
Subject Author Message Date ID
Soooo unions are asking for their own death warrant?
Jun 01st 2015
1
How hard could it be for them to stick to their own guns? Hilarious
Jun 01st 2015
3
      They know that a $15 MW is not realistic -- merely a political tool.
Jun 01st 2015
5
the irony is too thick!
Jun 01st 2015
2
they did the same shit with the affordable care act iirc
Jun 01st 2015
4
This is why we can't have nice things
Jun 01st 2015
6
The MW debate is so weird. You can't save EVERYONE man
Jun 01st 2015
7
the number will be inflated forever.
Jun 01st 2015
8
You sure about that? How do you know?
Jun 02nd 2015
9
      by 'inflated' i mean it will increase again.
Jun 02nd 2015
11
           the argument is "who will I look down upon"
Jun 02nd 2015
12
                #14
Jun 02nd 2015
16
Yes, you can save everyone. The resources are there
Jun 02nd 2015
10
America doesn't work w/o an exploited class.
Jun 02nd 2015
14
don't we already do this with "creatives"?
Jun 02nd 2015
20
      in a way, yes.
Jun 02nd 2015
22
greed is strong isn't it?
Jun 02nd 2015
15
      Nobody's even saying "make everyone the middle class"
Jun 02nd 2015
21
           agreed
Jun 02nd 2015
25
This guy thinks he understands some things about economics.
Jun 02nd 2015
18
exactly
Jun 02nd 2015
13
The argument looks good to me.
Jun 02nd 2015
17
oh yeah.
Jun 02nd 2015
23
It does make sense though.
Jun 02nd 2015
19
you have a point
Jun 02nd 2015
24
this is true
Jun 02nd 2015
26
yup
Jun 02nd 2015
28
If we had stronger unions, there would be no need for a minimum wage
Jun 02nd 2015
27

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