A professor of physics at the University of California, Irvine, tweeted Wednesday that the increase raised wages for all University of California positions to a minimum of $15 an hour was a great thing, even though he would be negatively affected by such policy.
Professor Asantha Cooray supports the plan, even if it means he can't have undergrad researchers.
Napolitano raises University of California minimum hourly wage to $15. It's a good thing but I cannot pay $15 to my undergrad researchers!
— Asantha Cooray (@acooray) July 22, 2015
Some people called out the professor on his logic.
@acooray Then why do you say it's a good thing? Minimum wage is a war on the young. Keeps them off first rung of career ladder.
— Rand Simberg (@Rand_Simberg) July 22, 2015
@acooray Can you explain why it's good that you can't afford it?
— Aggierican (@aggierican) July 22, 2015
Professor Cooray then tried to find a way for his team of researchers to continue has hired staff without having to pay the increase minimum wage.
@acooray UC needs to create an exception for student researchers or we'll have issues staffing labs with student researchers
— Asantha Cooray (@acooray) July 22, 2015
Thankfully, someone was able to calmly talk with the professor about the difficulties of free market.
@acooray Why should you get an exception? You should be protesting the terrible policy itself.
— Rand Simberg (@Rand_Simberg) July 22, 2015
@acooray It's not like you have some issue unique to you. Every employer has the same problem when the govt interferes with the market.
— Rand Simberg (@Rand_Simberg) July 22, 2015
@Rand_Simberg probably. If NSF follows the lead & increase REU stipends amounts to match $15/hour then won't be an issue but unlikely soon.
— Asantha Cooray (@acooray) July 22, 2015
@acooray Yes, raising wages requires more revenue. But there's a lot of magical thinking going on in discussion about minimum wage.
— Rand Simberg (@Rand_Simberg) July 22, 2015
@Rand_Simberg clearly as I am learning now with that one single tweet. Looks like I muddled into a sensitive issue to some people.
— Asantha Cooray (@acooray) July 22, 2015