Big Labor: Conquering Zeros
11th March 2016
Unions have been demanding a $15 minimum wage. But when passed, they turn around and seek an exemption for union businesses, effectively denying their members the fruits of their victory. The Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, a member of the 1,200-strong California Federation of Labor, recently did just that. It led a fight for a citywide $15 minimum wage—while vehemently opposing an exemption for non-profits and small businesses. Immediately after the legislation was passed, however, they began lobbying for an exemption for unionized businesses.
This was too much for even the union-friendly Los Angeles Times, which captioned its editorial on the subject, “L.A. Labor Leader’s Hypocrisy on Minimum Wage.” In its defense, the Federation disclosed that its hypocrisy was not limited to Los Angeles County, that this is simply a standard exemption in minimum wage laws passed by California cities at the behest of the labor movement.