Re: RAISE THE MINIMUM WAGE TO $120 AN HOUR!!

From: Albert (alwagner_at_tcac.net)
Date: 06/16/04 

Date: Tue, 15 Jun 2004 19:27:39 -0500

On Tue, 15 Jun 2004 14:12:23 -0700
"Bill Bonde ( ``I could have nailed the St. Helena goat's pelt to the
deck'' )" <stderr2@backpacker.com> wrote:

> Albert wrote:
<snip>
> > My point was that labor's value should be defined through
> > negotiation by persons with equal power.
> >
> Yet you support unions which can be monopolies on such negotiation.

They can be, but aren't always. Not even often. But the fact remains
that wages should be negotiated between equals in power. Otherwise,
some form of coercion is inevitable, either by management or labor.
Short of some better solution the only "equalizers" labor has is the
minimum wage and unions. Unilateral disarmament by labor leaves it
vulnerable to inevitable abuse.

<snip>
> The point of a union is to be a monopoly on labour. Unions don't even
> want to allow companies to hire people who will work while the strike
> is in progress. How is that fair?

As fair a mass layoffs or lock-outs I suppose.
<snip>
> > Minimum wage is an intervention that is required because fair
> > negotiation is not allowed.
> >
> How does minimum wage law change that?

It doesn't, but it minimizes the damage to the lowest paid workers.
<snip>
> > > and should bargain individually for their wages.
> >
> > Now that's the rub, isn't it. It is practically impossible for an
> > individual to bargain from a position of equal strength with an
> > employer.
> >
> It happens all the time. Most people are not unionized. Most people
> get paid more than minimum wage.

So? Stealing the product of labor doesn't stop at minimum wage workers.
How many making 3 times minimum wage are due wages 5 times minimum wage?
 
> > So the intervention of collecting bargaining must come to the
> > rescue. You can't disallow collective bargaining without providing
> > a viable alternative platform of strength for the individual
> > bargainer.
> >
> The individual wants a job and bargains with the employer who needs
> someone to fill it.

Yes? Did you forget something? Shouldn't you address how to insure
that a real negotiation from equal power takes place? 

-- 
"Let me give you a definition of ethics: It is good to maintain and
further life; it is bad to damage and destroy life."
	-- Albert Schweitzer

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