The cost of wages is not set by the employer, is it ? The wage is set by the market, based on demand of the product. At least that’s the way I learned it in economics.
If that’s what you learned in economics class you should ask for a refund.
“The market” is just a euphemism for the employers looked at as a group. And before anyone tries to chime in about employees holding out for better wages it doesn’t work 99% of the time because the employer will just pass you over and take one of the other 500 applicants that will work for what they want to pay.
All the negotiating power right now is in the court of the employers. Thank you for that union bashers.
“The cost of wages is not set by the employer, is it ? “
I think it depends on the market position of the company with smaller operations at the most disadvantage and most governed by narrower markets. The larger the company, the more diverse opportunities can be pursued and they will have more flexibility in attracting workers. This is why towns with mostly small business panic when larger manufacturing or the infamous box stores move in. They simply cannot compete for workers or markets.