Amazon is constantly hiring at their Warehouses and they use robots to assist too...
Because, robots still utterly suck at putting random objects into an appropriately sized box, and are likely to continue sucking at it for quite some time.
Well that's kind of what I'm saying. the Industry is just shifting. "Higher wages just means fewer jobs and more automation!"...No, that's already happening. McDonalds isn't installing self service machines because of increased wages. Jobs lost at a place like Wal Mart are shifting to other areas like an Amazon Warehouse....Whether the minimum wage was $5 or $15 online shopping would still be hurting Brick and Mortar stores and those jobs would still be shifting over. Automation would still exist because the technology for it is getting better...
These days i can take a picture of a check with my phone and have the money go into my bank account without having to talk to a bank teller....did banks start doing that because wage increases forced them fire tellers? No, they did it because the technology now exists and they know their customers appreciate the convenience...Its going to happen regardless and using that as an excuse AGAINST a livable wage is wrong IMO.
Of course, this all feeds into the "evisceration of the middle class" narrative even more, as the forktruck driver was well-paid, and the only jobs left are standing in the same place for eight hours and putting things into boxes. ...for $13 an hour with "full benefits from day one".