The crux is here.
Then I'll do something else that pays more.
What separates skilled from unskilled labor is that the unskilled labor force have no skills to do something else that pays more.
While I support the idea that every job should pay a living wage, the idea that there shouldn't be a difference in pay based on the rarity of the skillset of the employee of question just isn't workable in am open market society.
This is how politics works and how it should work.
The sides involved have competing goals and work together to pass legislation which addresses both their goals.
This isn't weakness.