Basic income has a whole host of pretty interesting self-reinforcing feedback loops that seemingly would improve things overall.
For example, people would be more likely to leave jobs that were unsafe, treated people poorly, etc. Including situations where employers weren't following labor laws and regulations (which is a huge problem today). Meaning that maybe it'd be more likely that the fire code, sanitary regulations, etc. were followed consistently. Additionally, people would be more able to have the flexability to be able to train for new careers (whether on their own or through a school or program). Shifting the balance of power in the job market to labor would also generally improve the wage situation, which has stagnated for the last several decades due to the growing power of employers.
Or, if the fire code weren't followed, there wouldn't be bullshit political pressure to keep the factory open because "Think of the jobs you're killing!"
Same logic is used in free market arguments: Workers leaving jobs to go to other companies creates an incentive for employers to improve work environments.
In both scenarios the workplaces become better off, but what really happens in practice is less than ideal.
Yes but what happens if you are poor and living paycheck to paycheck? And what if there are not enough jobs? You have no choice but to stay in a job no matter how bad it is.
BI supposedly will give you a choice. You won't starve to death if you leave your job.
UBI is not an alternative or opposite to free labor markets. It simply provides a baseline level of income so that at the bottom end, the driving force behind an employee's decision to take a job or not is not driven by things like starvation.
Scenario: You're married with 2 kids and live in San Francisco. Is an $8,000/year UBI going to enable you to quit your $100,000/year job without another lined up?
The more you make the more you can save. And the more you can own. People who make that much aren't the ones you need to target to improve their bargaining power or labor mobility, but UBI is still a benefit. Some cash flow is better than no cash flow. Even if it's only enough to pay the interest on their credit cards, that's still a big deal. And might be enough to convince people to leave jobs they hate.
For example, people would be more likely to leave jobs that were unsafe, treated people poorly, etc. Including situations where employers weren't following labor laws and regulations (which is a huge problem today). Meaning that maybe it'd be more likely that the fire code, sanitary regulations, etc. were followed consistently. Additionally, people would be more able to have the flexability to be able to train for new careers (whether on their own or through a school or program). Shifting the balance of power in the job market to labor would also generally improve the wage situation, which has stagnated for the last several decades due to the growing power of employers.