Should UAW members be paid like college profs? Only if they want a huge paycut.

[Zen-like Todd]

Ridiculous:

http://mjperry.blogspot.com/2007/07/uaw-pricing-themselves-out-of-market.html

Labor cost per hour, wages and benefits for hourly workers, 2006.

Ford: $70.51 ($141,020 per year)

GM: $73.26 ($146,520 per year)

Chrysler: $75.86 ($151,720 per year)

Toyota, Honda, Nissan (in U.S.): $48.00 ($96,000 per year)

According to AAUP and IES, the average annual compensation for a college professor in 2006 was $92,973 (average salary nationally of $73,207 + 27% benefits).

Bottom Line: The average UAW worker with a high school degree earns 57.6% more compensation than the average university professor with a Ph.D. (see graph above, click to enlarge), and 52.6% more than the average worker at Toyota, Honda or Nissan.

Many industry analysts say the Detroit Three, and especially Ford, must be on par with Toyota and Honda to survive. This year's contract, they say, must be "transformational" in reducing pension and health care costs.

What would "transformational" mean? One way to think about: "transformational" would mean that UAW workers, most with a high school degree, would have to accept compensation equal to that of the average university professor with a Ph.D.

[Destino]

The fact that a college prof salary is given so we can see what percentage his benefits are, but no such numbers are provided for the auto workers raises red flags. I'd like to know how well paid Nissan's workers are (mexican made!) before I agree that I want american workers similarly compensated.

[Corcaigh]

Agree with Destino ... the blending of health and retirement benefits with salary is misleading, and a common game people play when trying to make a case.

That said, the big three auto manufacturers are being killed by pension and healthcare agreements they entered into with the UAW in the past.

[Zen-like Todd]

Agree with Destino ... the blending of health and retirement benefits with salary is misleading, and a common game people play when trying to make a case.

That said, the big three auto manufacturers are being killed by pension and healthcare agreements they entered into with the UAW in the past.

Why is it misleading, and why is it a game?