Comments on: The True Price Of Auto Labor Costs

While UAW Is Blamed For Detroit's Troubles, Comparison To Wages Paid By Foreign Carmakers Isn't Whole Story

[closethippy1]

Isn''t ironic that the people who make the most noise about American jobs shipped overseas and how illegal aliens help bring down wages in the US are the same people who whine about an American union of workers who are trying their best not to be treated as if they''re working in India or China?
Isn''t pathetic that the same whiners who put down fellow Americans for wanting a better pay defend the same corporations that ship American jobs overseas or who employ illegals?
People who complain about unions need to shut their pie holes for once so they can stop making fools out of themselves.

[frootloophhh]

Good Ole Republican party demanding middle class Americans take a decrease in compensation.

Have you EVER heard a Republican ask Top Level management to take a cut? I would love to see the figures on how many exec''s are making $250K plus.

[ramos937]

I am fortunate and have my own business which is doing well. In 2009, I will have to replace my 2002 Malibu. I know exactly what I want in a car. I will look at both domestic and foreign brands. Whichever offers me a best deal based on price, features and support gets my business. Will the mfg and/or dealer make a decent profit? Sorry, that is their look out. They are big boys.

[mbourn2]

And ---last time I looked this is America, you can ask for whatever you want in pay, if they say yes fine, if they say no, fine. So is it excessive? Or is it?


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Posted by rickwar
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Well, that is the way it SHOULD work.... except when you have a strong union that can go on strike and shut you down until you cave in to their demands. The Unions are crying about all the concessions they have had to make. There would be no need for concessions if they had not been so over-reaching in their contract negotiations for years and years. What is it about auto workers anyway that is so special that they should get a pay rate 3 or 4 times that of the average manufacturing job in a given area?

[a_witness-2009]

The Auto Industry has one of the most influential lobbys to spread the wealth around and to remind those on the take that it is payback time to the Unions. Bush just like other presidents and congressmen are accountable to those high dollar interest or else.

[dls3221]

I''m surprised the author didn''t mention the UAW jobs bank which pays laid off workers 90% of their salary. Or their golden med coverage which pays 100% of everything including testing equipment. Or their (until recently)lavish Xmas bonuses: one member complained of a $3200 year-end bonus because he was used to getting a $7200 bonus.

[rickwar]

Meanwhile, last year Toyota paid its entire 37-member leadership team approximately $22 million. (Stock options and amenities like housing and country club membership weren''t factored into the figure.)

What''s a house worth? Country club? Stock options? Also government healthcare and retirement vs self funded.

Can''t compare unless you know the real numbers.

And ---last time I looked this is America, you can ask for whatever you want in pay, if they say yes fine, if they say no, fine. So is it excessive? Or is it?

[rickwar]

"I have heard that the cost of labor at the automobile manufacturers is 10% of the cost of the vehicles while the cost of management is 20%. Furthermore since the 1970''''s GM for example is building the same number of vehicle with less than half the workers. Meanwhile the difference between worker pay and CEO pay has gone through the roof."

Posted by noloyalisti at 02:20 PM : Dec 19, 2008

Actually------

In 1949, the highest paid CEO in America was Charlie Wilson of General Motors, who earned $586,100 in salary, bonus and stock. That''s roughly equivalent to what some of the better-compensated CEO''s are making today.

But what did Wilson pay in taxes? $430,350.

1949 $586,100= 5,309,376 today That''s base salary, bonus and stock options additional on top of that.

UAW pay 1949 plus 1949 was the year the pension agreements were rolled out. 1950 healthcare. Insurance for retired @ 30 and out 1953.

In 1949 the minimum wage was 75 cents per hour auto workers about 2.00 per hour. =2.00 per hour 1949= 18.12 approx 2008 dollars before benefit package, cola, or negotiated adjustments.

[nincomp]

Furthermore since the 1970''''s GM for example is building the same number of vehicle with less than half the workers. Meanwhile the difference between worker pay and CEO pay has gone through the roof.

Posted by noloyalisti at 02:20 PM : Dec 19, 2008
+

US should follow Iran where the highest pay can''t be more than 12 times the lowest salary. The ratio for most US corporations is 300:1 or even higher

[antoniof123]

This should pretty much end the Republican chances of ever seeing congressional power again. Good job GOP keep up the good work by the end of next year you clowns will have destroyed any change of a Republican president for another 20 to 30 years.

It is obvious that the Republicans want a cut for the worker but what about the bonus for the exec''s or their salary. Did they tell you that the top 10 exec''s at Honda make less than any one exec at GM.

Yes, that is true so now we know who''s pay needs to be cut. Good then next year the GOP will be almost in the super miniorty within 2 years if the Democrats just do a little better than the GOP they will enusre more seats in congress.

[bjcone8559]

For weeks now we have been listenng to the right wingnuts in congress harp about the autoworkers earning $76 per hour. This blatant attempt to break the union is nothing less than a furthering of the ultra rich and big business war against the middle class.

If your net worth is less than eight figures and you voted republican, you''re a fool. You''ve been duped by the class of lords. You voted in favor of making yourself a serf... a servant.

[noloyalisti]

I have heard that the cost of labor at the automobile manufacturers is 10% of the cost of the vehicles while the cost of management is 20%. Furthermore since the 1970''s GM for example is building the same number of vehicle with less than half the workers. Meanwhile the difference between worker pay and CEO pay has gone through the roof.

[triplet-man]

Hmmm UAW workers only 10% of the cost... soo... that means that the CEO''s are getting tooo much of the profit... to screw the buisness up?
That''s what the UAW is there for... US... the taxpaying hard working people who support this WHOLE COUNTRY. It is there to make sure that we get some portion of what we deserve. A good living for an honest days work.