Union hypocrisy is not anything new—it’s quite often on display for the world to see. However, perhaps no other issue sheds light on the stunning level of union hypocrisy more than the $15 minimum wage.
The Washington Times recently reported on the AFL-CIO’s annual summer meeting where union bosses boasted of their success in championing the $15 minimum wage. Here’s the hypocrisy: An usher working at the event informed the reporter that she does not earn a $15 minimum wage. The Washington Policy Center,
“The fact an AFL-CIO affiliate is not paying its workers the $15 wage the union is not shocking. We already knew unions don’t really believe everyone should be paid $15. Unions routinely push special exemptions for unionized businesses from the minimum wage laws they actively support. Such “union escape clauses” allow unionized employers to pay their workers less than $15 (and gives employers a strong incentive to unionize).”
It’s not so much the hypocrisy that is shocking. It’s what is expected from unions. Rather, it’s how the union responded to the woman speaking to the reporter. The Washington Policy Center,
“An ATU official (who refused to give her name) quickly warned the woman not to speak with the reporter and immediately whisked her away. An ATU spokesman, David Roscow, later told the reporter the young woman is paid $20 per hour.”
But, that’s not all. The Times details a truly bizarre incident that followed,
“After saying that the young woman could not be interviewed, he later arranged an interview with the woman in a locked conference room at the center. Mr. Roscow and the ATU official who would not identify herself attended the brief interview.
“‘I get $20 an hour,’ the young woman said.
“Asked how long she had been making that wage, the unnamed ATU official ended the interview.”
Ladies and gentlemen, union hypocrisy—and their despotic regime—on display.
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