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Am I the only one not buying it. Yes, I realize that there are a few areas this may be true but IMHO it is a ploy to keep wages down by increasing labor supply.
I live in high cost NJ and stores and restaurants go without workers and short staff rather than pay more than about $9.50 to $10.00 an hour.
Why don’t they work with prisons when people get out and need work? No one ever wants to hire them, and the recidivism rate just increases. We have people who need work that aren’t getting help. We have our own low skilled people right here already, and they need help!
We've had nominal wage rigidity since 2008, wages are really slow to adjust to changes in the labor market. The good news for job seekers is that salaries will eventually have to increase.
“Our industry is very much in need of a temporary visa program for the low-skilled, essential workers,” said Shannon Meade, the National Restaurant Association’s director of labor and work force policy.
Yeah, a lobbyist for restaurant owners would say that, wouldn't they?
Quote:
Many diners complain about restaurants where the food is expensive but the service is lacking. Water glasses are left unfilled. Guests stand waiting for attention at a host stand, and servers with little knowledge of the menu merely smile sheepishly as sophisticated customers ask questions.
Ah, yes, "many" people. Such a strong argument.
And many diners don't complain. Many water glasses DO get filled. Many guests don't wait. However the successful ones probably are probably too busy serving customers to go complaining in the New York Times about work visas.
Demand for low skill workers in restaurants is high, yet there is reluctance to pay more to retain workers. Tough to make a $ and all that. Instead, restaurant trade associations advocate for the increased ability to legally import unskilled labor and pay them less than market rate.
This certainly is not limited to restaurant workers. There are bills in Congress seeking to create special visas for meat/ poultry packers and pay them less than Minimum Wage.
Where are these workers supposed to live?
The NYT links talks about the explosion of new restaurants in DC. It is obvious to the casual observer that lobbyists pick up the tab in fine dining locations.
When workers are imported they can bring their spouse and children. Those children attend US schools. ESL becomes critical. Then there’s healthcare.
Seems many folk want the benefits of cheap labor then turn around and blame big bad government for the consequences.
No rational reason for government to issue visas to unskilled workers so that restaurants are more profitable.
Let the employment market sort it out and if some restaurants fold- so be it.
This is a variation of seasonal worker visas. Instead of paying what the market demands, apply for and get h2b visa workers who can legally work in the US for 3 years on the same visa.
Federal lawmakers bend over backwards to avoid allowing the markets to sort themselves out and instead do the bidding for lobbyists. Recall the June, 2017 shooting of Scalise during a Congressional Baseball Game for Charity practice. These teams consist of Congress critters and lobbyists. Does not get any cozier than this and it’s as bipartisan as it gets.
Last edited by middle-aged mom; 04-12-2018 at 08:59 AM..
(usual warning about article limit and paywall. Bring up a private session browser window works most of the time)
Am I the only one not buying it. Yes, I realize that there are a few areas this may be true but IMHO it is a ploy to keep wages down by increasing labor supply.
I live in high cost NJ and stores and restaurants go without workers and short staff rather than pay more than about $9.50 to $10.00 an hour.
Yeah, and we all know what a luxurious lifestyle $10.00 an hour will get you in NJ. Should I buy a house in Alpine or Deal? Tough decision!
Cheap Chit places deserve the workers and service level they so "richly remunerate" at!
No rational reason for government to issue visas to unskilled workers so that restaurants are more profitable.
Let the employment market sort it out and if some restaurants fold- so be it.
In my city, I see signs on retail and fast food storefronts all the time offering $12 an hour. these businesses can't find enough low skilled workers at $12 an hour.
there was even a short form employment application taped to the top of the pizza box I picked up last weekend.
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