Workers Seeking More Pay Have Few Options
- Share via
* Whenever any wage increase is proposed, every avenue and type of media is flush with pundits from the business-interest think tanks telling us that we simple people just don’t understand the basic laws of business: First, the worker has to be more productive, then from this increase in productivity and profits, the worker can be paid more.
But “U.S. Productivity Still on Uptrend” [June 7] documents how things really work: The last quarter of 1999 and the first quarter of 2000 saw year-over-year increases in productivity of 3.7%, while the labor cost increases for the same period went up “barely 0.6%.”
To explain how increases in productivity fail to produce a real raise in wages, the management flacks trot out a different spiel, that “all increase in profits must go to increase shareholder value,” to quote a “suit” from my own company.
In other words, most of us live a carrot-and-stick existence, and if we seem dumb as donkeys to keep chasing that carrot, it’s only because in our “corporatocracy” there are no other options.
KENT SOUTHARD
Dana Point
Inside the business of entertainment
The Wide Shot brings you news, analysis and insights on everything from streaming wars to production — and what it all means for the future.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
