I guess it is all in perception! Personally, having grown up in Cali, I see the workers there as just wanting a fair wage for fair hours. But I could be biased.

Here, the employers seem to want you to give and give, but I am not seeing any monetary compensation other than "you get to keep your job". It is truly culture shock. My husbands employer made him salary, and it was decent money for a 40 hour week, possibly even 45, but they want him to work 60+ hours a week! That is a huge pay cut!