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Thank you again for your thoughtful reply. No, of course they have to have a CEO. And maybe he adds value, maybe not. He gets what he negotiated, same as the w

Thank you again for your thoughtful reply. No, of course they have to have a CEO. And maybe he adds value, maybe not. He gets what he negotiated, same as the workers. Management doesn't have much power? You're saying that an individual manager doesn't have much power and can be replaced. Sure, that's true. As for Ford, let me clarify. No, I'm not saying the unions deserve any credit -- after all, it's the same unions as at GM! But if you're going to give them the blame when things are bad, don't you have to also then give them the credit when things are good? The truth is they are just assembly line workers for the most part, and the quality was engineered out of the cars starting in the 1980's. And regarding the "harm" that workers do by raising the cost of labor, why aren't management's salaries also "harming" the business by raising the cost? Why the double standard?

yummyfajitas 16y ago
And regarding the "harm" that workers do by raising the cost of labor, why aren't management's salaries also "harming" the business by raising the cost? Why the double standard? The corporation negotiates with management from a position of equality. Both parties are permitted to make or reject offers as they see fit. If GM offers too little, Wagoner is free to take a higher paying job elsewhere. If GM can find someone cheaper, they are free to reject Wagoner. GM is also not permitted to collude with other employers to reduce prices. The corporation does not negotiate with a union from a position of equality. They are not permitted to reject union offers and procure labor at lower rates from the competition. They are also not permitted to fire and replace union workers who fail to do their jobs. Labor sellers are legally permitted to collude with each other to raise their prices, and they are given a government granted monopoly on the practice. Competition is illegal.
- rjbond3rd 16y ago
  Yummyfajitas, you certainly have a way with words :) You make the case that management is an innocent by-stander getting repeatedly mugged by unions. The truth is that the treachery went both ways, historically. Otherwise, why do unions exist? [Auto makers] are also not permitted to fire and replace union workers who fail to do their jobs. I wonder how many managers at GM have ever been fired for "failing to do their jobs," in light of the bailout. The lack of accountability is on both sides, not just one side.

yummyfajitas 16y ago

And regarding the "harm" that workers do by raising the cost of labor, why aren't management's salaries also "harming" the business by raising the cost? Why the double standard? The corporation negotiates with management from a position of equality. Both parties are permitted to make or reject offers as they see fit. If GM offers too little, Wagoner is free to take a higher paying job elsewhere. If GM can find someone cheaper, they are free to reject Wagoner. GM is also not permitted to collude with other employers to reduce prices. The corporation does not negotiate with a union from a position of equality. They are not permitted to reject union offers and procure labor at lower rates from the competition. They are also not permitted to fire and replace union workers who fail to do their jobs. Labor sellers are legally permitted to collude with each other to raise their prices, and they are given a government granted monopoly on the practice. Competition is illegal.

rjbond3rd 16y ago
Yummyfajitas, you certainly have a way with words :) You make the case that management is an innocent by-stander getting repeatedly mugged by unions. The truth is that the treachery went both ways, historically. Otherwise, why do unions exist? [Auto makers] are also not permitted to fire and replace union workers who fail to do their jobs. I wonder how many managers at GM have ever been fired for "failing to do their jobs," in light of the bailout. The lack of accountability is on both sides, not just one side.