LOW PAY WON'T MEAN LOW PRICES

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: MONDAY, February 3, 1992                   TAG: 9202030181
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A-10   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short
LOW PAY WON'T MEAN LOW PRICES
IT SEEMS that Cassie L. Carlton (letter, Jan. 20) would solve America's problems by having everyone work at minimum wage, except the boss (no explanation why the boss should be paid double), and no unions. This, according to Ms. Carlton, would result in affordable automobiles for everyone and, I assume, affordable gasoline.
Ms. Carlton relates prices directly to wages, and livable wages to unions. The price of gasoline and automobiles is affected by wages, granted; and union representation does attempt to establish a fair and equitable wage level. But having minimum-wage workers does not equal minimum-wage prices on products, even if the boss does receive only double the workers' pay.
If Ms. Carlton is convinced that working for minimum wage will solve America's problems, I am sure she can find a job paying that wage, except where the workers have organized into a union. The boss may not agree to work for double her pay, and the product of her labor will be priced at market value.
A good example of this is products exported from countries where the wage is $1 American a day or less, yet these products are priced the same or higher than the same products made in the USA, at a wage greater than minimum wage. Clothing is the best example.
The "Buy American" requirement of Ms. Carlton's letter is the only issue in her letter that can be supported.
Union, yes! SUZANNE S. MULLINS ROANOKE

by Bhavesh Jinadra by CNB