Ok I'm not really debating if they do or don't. Personally I feel about 10 $ a hr short from what I should make after decades in a trade. But I see another side of the coin y'all rarely mention. AMERICAN'S ARE CHEAP ASSES THAT SELL THEIR OWN OUT FOR A BARGAIN . example in my field of work its mostly bid spec work , lowest bidder receives the contract. The investors pit companies against each other for the cheapest, with the competition one can't pay employees what they should make and get the work needed to keep doors open. These sub contractors aren't wealthy aren't getting rich often operating on a 10-15% profit margin that one or two minor mistakes can take . I see the same in retail whole stores operate on the cheap premise looking at you dollar stores Walmart. Thou they do make millions and don't pay employees adequate.
Imo the worse problem is the force they use on manufacturing to hold down prices , if vendor says he can't manufacturer in America for the price they want they say take it outta country. Already have the manufacturer paying bottom dollar and it's to expensive so take it outta country to exploit cheaper labor. Yet how many of you went to Walmart to buy cheap goods last week?
Yes we should get paid better but the consumers shouldn't cheap out demanding bottom prices that limit possible incomes of those they buy from. If you want people making better money be willing to pay more .
I do hvac for a living have for 30 yrs it never stops amazing me how little people want to pay for comfort. Their a.c. goes out you tell them to replace is going to be $5000 plus depending on size of house. They always seem to act like your ripping them off coming up with print outs of units they found on net for half the price of ones you use etc. Yet those are the junk that you'll be working on every few months to keep running costing far more in the end. I install quality and it should be payed for accordingly. In my area one can't purchase a good unit not most expensive but a good one for less than $2,500-$3,000 that's due to EPA govt regulations for energy efficiency. Once mark up and other material copper, freon , insulation tstat wire and tstat. Your already over 4k so you have 1000 to pay two employees, gas at 4 bucks a gallon and other overhead cost ie insurances workman comp , truck payment, and then employees which as I said aren't paid enough but billed out at 50-75 a hour. And it takes 4- 8 hours to do you can see there is no margin left.
Owners aren't getting rich their trying to survive and keep their employees families fed. But for what purpose when after decades in business they have to go with out pay some weeks. It's a good company they care give the best bonuses around best trucks best benefits and competitive pay . They raise anything more they might as well go outta business. Yet other companies not treating employees as good as able are undercutting prices using straight outta school employees getting no benefits to little pay and using personal vehicles uncompensated. That's what holds our pay down that's why we can't make more. Some small start up with far less over head and care for employees makes it impossible to compete if a mid size trying to do employees right and stay in business.
I'd also note conglomerates have been buying up local established companies reducing pay and benefits of its employees. So what sell out? fact is as is we can't find employees to learn the trade and work it's not taught in vocational anymore it's mostly ojt pay is no more than retail fast food now. Yet they gotta come work in elements buying tools safety gear boots etc no ac heat breathing in dust and fiberglass insulation daily compared to go flip burgers for the same. No question which most will do.
I see y'all say we'll pay em and I fully agree starting out they should be doubling what a fast food worker makes but the companies honestly can't and stay in business. Cause no one wants to pay for anything friends and family constantly expect me to work for free when they have a issue. Ignoring the cost of my education my skill and my time . If they won't pay you how does one expect a investor or other customer to. This is also why infrastructure lacks and suffers it's cost is astronomical and it's employees and subcontractors still are barely getting by when the projects do start. Even unions are coming in short.