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Comment by jgervin | Hacker News Reader

Cost is the main driver here. I am lefty, but I agree the unions are a little out of control. I am sorry, but a guy who stands in a production line building cars should not be making $125k per year (source was a series on TV, think 60 minutes where they talked to some of those workers).

I am glad unions are there to help make sure people are not overworked and have benefits, but come on guys. You shot yourself in the foot there.

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> I am sorry, but a guy who stands in a production line building cars should not be making $125k per year

You should be pleased to learn then that they don't:

* http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/10/business/economy/10leonhar...

* http://www.factcheck.org/2008/12/auto-worker-salaries/

Fact-checking FactCheck.org:

Let's assume that a union worker won't get an extra $15 per hour worked that current retirees are receiving. So take $15 off of their labor costs of $70 per hour (complexity through obfuscation). So that's

  $55 = VALUE of actual wages and benefits EARNED by WORKING 1 hour
  hours_worked_per_year = 52*40 = 2080
  earnings_per_year = hours_worked_per_year * $55 = $114,400

So you're correct, according to FactCheck.org, it's not $125k per year. But the point is still valid when you account for benefits. If my employer gives me a new Ferrari each year as a benefit, no one would consider me underpaid if I made $10/hour doing secretarial work.

Not only salaries, but also benefits. I think Health Care Insurance (that the company provides)is often overlooked. American Health Care cost for businesses has increased a ton over the last few decades.

This comment got down voted, it is not mine but it is legitimate point in the discussion. Looks like there are leftist out there doing this?

Why not? That kind of job is boring and repetitive. You would not do it, would you?

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