Comment by rafram
Would it be better if they hired non-union labor at $5/hour (1/3 the minimum wage)? Would you apply for that job?
Would it be better if they hired non-union labor at $5/hour (1/3 the minimum wage)? Would you apply for that job?
The actual scenario at hand is paying 3x wages "just because".
You said 1/3 minimum wage as a strawman. Not to mention minimum wages aren't necessary anyway - like you said "it’s really hard to hire even at minimum wage these days".
Pay market wages, without external forces driving wages higher. Because, higher wages means higher costs, and if you are government that's essentially theft from your taxpayers.
Obviously that would be better. If no one applied for the job you raise rates until someone does.
You don't artificially start unnecessarily high.
If you do you are basically stealing from taxpayers to give gifts to unions.