Recent discussions within Los Angeles labor groups reveal inherent hypocrisy within the “Fight for $15” campaign. Unions paid plenty of lip service toward this effort, which would raise the minimum wage to $15. The Los Angeles City Council is considering a measure that would raise the city’s minimum wage to $15 by 2020, and this month California Governor Jerry Brown signed a law raising the state’s minimum wage to $15 by 2022. It seems that unions should be celebrating this supposed win for workers – yet union leaders are currently seeking an exemptionto the $15-an-hour minimum wage for union members.
Yes, you read that correctly. Champions of the “Fight for $15” movement appear to be getting what they fought for, except now they want no part of it. Los Angeles labor leaders make the argument that, if unionized businesses are exempt from the minimum-wage law, they can have the freedom to negotiate better terms for workers (which might include lower hourly pay but other benefits, like healthcare and vacation time).
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