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Our view: Boeing vs. union threatens Dreamliner investment
For decades, aircraft maker Boeing has had rocky relations with the union workers who build its planes in Washington state. Since 1977, the union has gone on strike five times, including a 58-day walkout three years ago that cost Boeing an estimated $2 billion and infuriated some of the company's customers. (www.usatoday.com) More...Sort type: [Top] [Newest]
“Decent” is defined in this case as being able to meet your needs, and have a bit left over. Those basic needs cannot be reduced or “adjusted”. In this area that would be about $60,000 per year as a single person working a 40 hour week. Belt tightening at that level means either your Internets, or cell phone, since you no longer have cable, take vacations, or live in a 2000 sq. foot or greater home.
And you are correct, no one is guaranteed a thing. But, if your a company selling cars, homes, food, or other services, you have to think in terms of can customers afford what I offer. It means your markets are getting smaller, as more jobs are being exported. It becomes a race to the bottom of the drain.
Last, I am not familiar with non-union shop states. But from what I have seen, not many people leave the protections of being a Union member, if for nothing else, to avoid the whims of an employer who will fire you for crossing your eyes. It does happen! As well, it all depends upon what union, it's by-laws, and it's leadership.
And you are correct, no one is guaranteed a thing. But, if your a company selling cars, homes, food, or other services, you have to think in terms of can customers afford what I offer. It means your markets are getting smaller, as more jobs are being exported. It becomes a race to the bottom of the drain.
Last, I am not familiar with non-union shop states. But from what I have seen, not many people leave the protections of being a Union member, if for nothing else, to avoid the whims of an employer who will fire you for crossing your eyes. It does happen! As well, it all depends upon what union, it's by-laws, and it's leadership.
My income has changed by more than plus or minus 50% over the last ten years and is now higher than ever. My point is, there is no guarantee of a stable job with stable pay anywhere. So who defines "decent"? I care about paying my bills, but when my circumstances change, by bills need to be adjusted accordingly. If the company we work for has to tighten its belt as you describe to get through depressing times, we, individaully have to do the same. It's simply a part of life.
If being a union member was such a great deal, why then would there be this constant in and out of membership as described above? Do you think people really make such decisions based on their "mood"? So you're saying that if you choose to join a union you shouldn't have the choice to un-join? Really?
If being a union member was such a great deal, why then would there be this constant in and out of membership as described above? Do you think people really make such decisions based on their "mood"? So you're saying that if you choose to join a union you shouldn't have the choice to un-join? Really?
We 'fair wage' people don't really care so much what the CEO makes. We do however care about paying our bills, and trying to keep up.
If a worker does his best at his job, he is entitled to decent compensation. We tire of company after company cutting or eliminating our retirement, decimating our benefits, and giving us useless perks. Then tell those working people, if they do not give back more, they will move the jobs someplace else.
I am personally quite happy with the performance of our CEO. He has carried the company through a very depressing few years, increased spending on capital, and made the hard cuts needed to balance the books. Those chaps who were cut off, have returned to work, and those assets sidelined, have mostly been put back in to use. It was a hard time, and we are grateful that we weathered it. Yet that does not nullify the love/hate relationship between Labor and Management. Nor should it ignore the fact that during that period of time, the cost of our basic needs have gone up. We feel during that time, we kept up our end of the bargain.
If a worker does his best at his job, he is entitled to decent compensation. We tire of company after company cutting or eliminating our retirement, decimating our benefits, and giving us useless perks. Then tell those working people, if they do not give back more, they will move the jobs someplace else.
I am personally quite happy with the performance of our CEO. He has carried the company through a very depressing few years, increased spending on capital, and made the hard cuts needed to balance the books. Those chaps who were cut off, have returned to work, and those assets sidelined, have mostly been put back in to use. It was a hard time, and we are grateful that we weathered it. Yet that does not nullify the love/hate relationship between Labor and Management. Nor should it ignore the fact that during that period of time, the cost of our basic needs have gone up. We feel during that time, we kept up our end of the bargain.
Yes, workers in South Carolina have the right, guaranteed under Federal Law, to unionize. However, they are free to join or leave the union as the mood strikes them. When time comes to negotiate a contract, management simply stonewalls and the union is powerless to do anything about it. If the union calls a strike, the workers will leave the union rather than give up a paycheck and the strike fizzles and contract negotiations with it. Unions have no power and are not recognized by the company so they mean little and accomplish little for the workers.
@ Erik Weseman - "Workers in South Carolina can't unionize as it is a right-to-work state"
This is blatantly false. Workers are totally free to seek union representation in SC if they choose or any other state for that matter. Similar efforst have taken place at a number of manufactureres all over this state, most noatbly at BMW manufacturing which is about 5 minutes from where I sit. The fact is, when given the CHOICE, workers here do not WANT to be dictated to by their union bosses. The difference here is that the state government guarantees workers that CHOICE. Which is not true in many other, mostly unionized (and also mostly bankrupt) states.
What the union whiners have never understood, and what others have tried countless times to point out, is that they are never owed a job. It is the "entitlement" mentality of the unionized workforce that killed GM. I will never, never, ever, buy another GM product for that very reason. In fact I love my new (fairly new) Hyundai built in ALABAMA!
The CEO of my company's total compensation is right in line or actually a bit less that our industry peers, but guess what - he makes a WHOLE lot more than me. But he is responsible for a 1.4 Billion dollar enterprise. My little slice of the pie is about 1/1000th of that. So he should make 1000 x more than me right? What percentage of the hundreds of billions in revenue that Boeing generates is a guy screing screws into a seat bracket all day long worth? All you "fair wage" people need to get a sense of perspective before you complain about how much money executives make, and how much value you bring to the total product, and how easily you could be replaced. If there are 35 million other people in the US alone (not to mention 845 million worldwide) who can do what you do, how much do you really deserve?
This is blatantly false. Workers are totally free to seek union representation in SC if they choose or any other state for that matter. Similar efforst have taken place at a number of manufactureres all over this state, most noatbly at BMW manufacturing which is about 5 minutes from where I sit. The fact is, when given the CHOICE, workers here do not WANT to be dictated to by their union bosses. The difference here is that the state government guarantees workers that CHOICE. Which is not true in many other, mostly unionized (and also mostly bankrupt) states.
What the union whiners have never understood, and what others have tried countless times to point out, is that they are never owed a job. It is the "entitlement" mentality of the unionized workforce that killed GM. I will never, never, ever, buy another GM product for that very reason. In fact I love my new (fairly new) Hyundai built in ALABAMA!
The CEO of my company's total compensation is right in line or actually a bit less that our industry peers, but guess what - he makes a WHOLE lot more than me. But he is responsible for a 1.4 Billion dollar enterprise. My little slice of the pie is about 1/1000th of that. So he should make 1000 x more than me right? What percentage of the hundreds of billions in revenue that Boeing generates is a guy screing screws into a seat bracket all day long worth? All you "fair wage" people need to get a sense of perspective before you complain about how much money executives make, and how much value you bring to the total product, and how easily you could be replaced. If there are 35 million other people in the US alone (not to mention 845 million worldwide) who can do what you do, how much do you really deserve?
And just for the record - the lifestyle you describe that requires $60K where you live, is about $40K here. It shows where we are as a society that a 2000sq. ft home is now a basic need (for a single person?).