CEO's certainly are culpable. But Joey, which do you think costs more - a CEO making $20mil, or 40,000 union workers making $80,000?

(I'll give you a a hint, it's not the CEO)

 

The fact that domestic air routes are protected from foreign airline competition certainly helps airline unions thrive. Let foreign airlines run domestic routes, and see how well the unions do!

Joey, I agree that exec. compensation can be obscene, but just like star athletes, there's a market clearing price for the ones most in demand that's way up there. I can't defend their pay either aside from the fact that their boards (who were elected by shareholders) awarded it. In fact, shareholders often vote on executive compensation plans (at a high level). I just wish I was one of those high-flying execs!

 

[QUOTE=Chris S,Sep 18 2008, 07:53 AM] The fact that domestic air routes are protected from foreign airline competition certainly helps airline unions thrive.

 

Also, don't forget that the many CEO bonuses are often in STOCK OPTIONS. For companies that are run into the ground, those options are in many cases worth very little (if anything) right now. Some of them are literally worthless since the company is dead.

 

How about management at UAL stealing everyone's pensions in BK court then last year awarded themselves over $100,000.000.00 in Bonuses to ensure the "talent" is kept happy. To me that is theft and piracy and they should take that money and disperse it back into the company/or employees whos pensions were taken to help keep the company alive

 

I'm a pilot, too, and I just wanted to point out that not all of us are this elitist/arrogant. Posts like this make us look bad.

For the record, I am in favor of the free market and opposed to unions.

 

And what airline do you work for?

 

Not to mention, we have a lot of professionals on this board, including me. I'm an engineer and I can guarantee that if we were unionized, they'd have paid twice as much for the plane and it'd be half as good as it is now.

 

The other manufactures have to continue competing? On what basis? They are making loses so we must too? Sorry but no. Maybe on basis of market share, but only in the short run. Definitely not in on the basis of profits.

 

That it is a general response to a complicated question and IMO an incorrect reponse.

Who is making the cars the CEO or the workers? So some of that costs has to be put back into the company...what are the CEO and the workers worth to the company?

Does that 20 million salary include the stock options and golden retirement funds...try not paint a one-sided picture when it it clearly has a multitude of sides...