The workers at my parent's business are going to try to unionize, they think they are underpaid?

We operate a laundry service. We clean linens & uniforms mostly. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median income this type of worker is $8.86 per hour. The mean wage is $9.41. Most workers in this industry are employed by laundry & dry cleaning services like us. The mean hourly wage is $9.10. If you work for a hospital doing the same job, the mean hourly wage is $10.53. I remind them we are NOT a hospital. We currently hire at $7.50 per hour. Most workers go to the 8pm-4am shift, where there is a 15% differential, so they start at $8.62 per hour. After 90 days, you get a 10% increase ($8.25) after 180 days another 5% ($8.66) after a year of service you top out at $9.10 per hour, plus differential. Not including the differential, they are making the mean industry wages for their work. They are not happy. There's not many openings at the local hospitals, which I know pay a little more. They get what others doing the same work get. How can I convince them of this? Thanks!

1 year ago - 2 answers