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

[FrodosPet]

Simple answer... you can either allow and encourage your workers to form or join a union, or give them $15 an hour. But the important thing is, you are doing something for the workers. Not to mention the fact that the law is the law...local ordinances cannot override a collective bargaining agreement.

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

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.

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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.

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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.

[SickOfTheOnePct]

1. I can't figure out why people support the unions on this

Either $15/hour is the minimum wage or it isn't.

[FrodosPet]

2. It's a great carrot and stick

Hopefully, it helps drive union membership. So even if the workers don't get $15 in pay, perhaps the bennies, like vacation time, sick leave, etc that the union can get them will put them right there with the non-union workers.