How does tipping improve their bargaining power? Seems to me like it would weaken it (“why do you need a higher base wage? You get so many tips!”)

It doesn't. The tipping is the only thing I can do in the short term to help, because those tips go to workers immediately (versus the lengthy sales cycle of labor improvements). My apologies that wasn't more clear.

If course, it only goes to workers, when it isn't stolen by the company.

https://www.engadget.com/2019-02-06-instacart-revises-pay-po...

As far as I know Instacart has stopped doing this, and many other apps were busted for this, but it's utterly, utterly shameful.

I think a problem you get with tipping is that you have no idea what the worker is getting paid, and you have no idea what they deserve. You go up to the counter and you assume that's the case, and I'm sure much more often than not, they're not raking it in, but it's it a demeaning thing to look at someone and say "hey you look poor, here's some extra money that wasn't part of the bill"?

Unionized may end up deciding that tips work in their favor, so that's not necessarily a solution. What we really need is for the government to ban soliciting of tips or to ensure prices are fully transparent prior to sale. That's a more realistic solution anyway, and one with fewer potential societal costs to it.

1.7 trillion spent and 25 million for NLRB. Truly the current regime looks after the little guy.

2023 budget is $300M. "the NLRB received a $25M funding bump"

https://www.nlrb.gov/news-outreach/news-story/statement-on-n...

This is where if I were inclined to condescension I’d explain what an order of magnitude is, and how many there are here, but since I don’t actually think you’re stupid can you fill me in on what your point is?