This morning it was reported D.C’s largest labor unions announced they struck a deal with the D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and the City Council to abandon a minimum-wage ballot measure in exchange for approval of a $15 minimum wage. Everyone should be wary of any deal struck with big union bosses, as they are more concerned with collecting new union dues than ensuring prosperity for workers and businesses. The “Fight For $15” is a selfish campaign for union bosses to continue living their lavish lifestyles at the cost of jobs and local business.

Businesses will not be able to sit idly by and absorb the costs associated with an increased minimum wage. According to a recent report from the Employment Policies Institute, about half of D.C. employers said they would lay off workers or reduce hours as a way to adjust to a $15 minimum wage, because they would be unable able to absorb new costs. The decisions that businesses will be forced to make will have a domino effect on workers. The report detailed the adjustments businesses are prepared to make with an increased minimum wage:

According to the report, just over half of the businesses surveyed said they planned to raise prices in order to offset the cost of a minimum wage hike.

Thirty-five percent said they would likely reduce staffing levels and 37 percent said they would reduce employees’ hours or reduce the number of hours they were open for business.

Thirty-one percent of businesses said they were very likely to hire more skilled workers in the future to offset the higher wage.

One in five businesses said they would move out of the District of Columbia and into Arlington, Virginia where the minimum wage is $7.25 per hour.

Sixteen percent of businesses surveyed said they were somewhat likely to close their business if the minimum wage hike were implemented and 6 percent of businesses said they would likely close.

District workers should expect layoffs, hiring freezes, automation of the workforce,and shorter work hours as businesses struggle to cope with the drastically increased labor costs from a $15 minimum wage. Low-wage workers will have difficulties progressing in their jobs as businesses hire more qualified workers to match higher pay.

Unions have selfishly negotiated with city councils to increase the minimum wage, aiming to collect millions of dollars in new union dues, while ignoring the tragic consequences of a $15 minimum wage on workers and businesses. While big union bosses may have struck a deal with D.C. to raise the minimum wage, it will be workers and businesses paying the price for the deal.