11.   If too much is given out in wage hikes, companies could end up in trouble when the next recession hits.

12.   In the past, low and falling unemployment rates compelled workers to demand, and win, substantial wage hikes.

13.   Kaiser eventually withdrew its wage giveback demands and offered all its Northern California unions, both its partners and the CNA, small wage hikes.

14.   Labor unions, after grudgingly accepting negligible wage hikes in the past two years, are now demanding bigger increases.

15.   On balance, approving a wage hike makes more sense at this stage in the economy.

16.   Republicans, however, have pledged to attach a package of small business tax breaks to any wage hike.

17.   Republican congressional leaders contend that the wage hike would hurt low-income workers by encouraging layoffs.

18.   Several other growers at the meeting agreed to incremental wage hikes in the near future.

19.   Surveys show the wage hike had minimal impact and jobs were not lost.

20.   The company could see costs rise with a wage hike.