|
|
Posted by hemimech on Monday, December 15, 2008 at 20:23:56 :
In Reply to: Threat of failure can be a great motivator posted by 48PW on Monday, December 15, 2008 at 13:29:12 :
Per Associated press Dec 11th. “Hourly wages for United Auto Workers laborers at General Motors Corp. factories actually are almost equal to those paid by Toyota Motor Corp. at its older U.S. factories, according to the companies. GM says the average UAW laborer makes $29.78 per hour, while Toyota says it pays about $30 per hour”
As far as UAW concessions go workers voted in a Two tier wage system for non-manufacturing positions (security ,housekeeping..etc..),Those jobs are now filled with wages as low as $12 to $15 an hour (not much if you ever lived in Detroit’s suburbs). The new wage structure applies to new hires, not current workers. Doctor’s office co-pays have been doubled and prescription drug co-pays tripled. I’m not going to stand on a soap box and defend or wholly support the UAW, but their workers aren’t getting rich & living in million dollar homes. At Chrysler for instance management (from about the fourth level & up) have continued (multiple years now) to receive 100% bonuses (yes, that’s one year’s pay + another) for job well done while the slashing of UAW jobs continue. Meanwhile there has been no profit sharing for the line workers in the last four years due to “ 0 profit”. This is despite several record sales months in 2006. Meanwhile Chrysler is paying out 20 million to it’s previous top executive during the “Cerebus transition” and an additional 30 million in retention bonuses to the top 50 executives who hang around to help out. Needless to say that amount of money could feed 800+families on a typical UAW wage.
The auto industry suffers from the same overpaid executive structure that the rest of corporate America does.
It’s very narrow-minded to stand off on the sidelines and blame the auto workers for draining the companies’ dry do to high wages (wages the companies agreed to). While the management drinks from a bottomless glass and plans more trucks and larger small cars(without Diesels..for Norm).
Sincerely,
Brian
Follow Ups: