Auto Industries? The unionized ones went bankrupt.

I didn't say anything about the manufacture of airplanes or trains, I was talking about travel by train and airplane.

Average salary for Amtrak employees? 59k

The American people pay over a billion dollars a year to subsidize Amtrak.

I think they should be paid a reasonable, financial sustainable wage. When they demand more and more, they become a huge burden to the companies. And their strong arm tactics can force a company like GM to make contract agreements that drive them right into bankruptcy.

So are you saying we should all go out in the woods with bow and arrows and recapture those good old days that you seen on your color flat panel pasam 52 inch TV.

That average salary does that include a companies contributions to medical and retirenment? or is that figure just base bay? The auto industry went in the dumps when gas prices shot through the roof and no one purchased any cars and especialy trucks. Just a heads up

Q: Do labor costs make up the majority of the cost of producing a vehicle?
A: No. Labor costs are about 10 percent of the costs of producing a vehicle. The other 90 percent includes research and development, parts, advertising, marketing and management overhead.
The answer is an oversimplification. It appears to consider only assembly-line labor costs. Each of the other categories, research, development, parts, advertising, marketing, and management, also have labor costs (and these categories may be far more labor-intensive than final assembly), which must be taken into account. As well, the labor costs associated with extraction, refinement, and transport of the raw materials (and transport of finished vehicles to dealers) must be considered. Finally, the labor costs of energy required for all phases of auto manufacturing, from extraction through final delivery, must be considered. The real cost of any product is the total cost of labor and materials required to produce the product, plus profit, at all stages of productio



Read more: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_percent_of_new_car_price_is_labor_cost#ixzz1AJ7hqXyH

So if the american auto worker agreed to work for free it would reduce t he price of a car 10%

I wonder if "management overhead" includes the "job banks" and the lifetime full benefits for all retired employees and their families?

What do you call reasonable and financial sustainable wages $8.65. I'm not trying to be a wise guy but do you really think that would keep these over paid corporations heads from outsourcing american jobs.

No I think its managment pay, well any reasonable person would anyhow

does that figure you gave for amtrack include pension and insurence? or is that a base pay plus benefits? If it does its a misleading figure.
The Japanese automaker has fewer retirees in the U.S., and its health care benefits and pensions are less generous than those negotiated between Detroit and the UAW. Another key point is that health costs and pensions for auto workers in Japan - worth billions - are subsidized by the Japanese government. Not so in the U.S.

UAW representatives were wary of renegotiating its contracts again, after having already settled for lower wages in its contract talks with GM earlier this year. [New hires at GM are paid $14-$16 an hour; Ford and Chrysler also pay new hires less; this has stirred the companies to offer buyout packages to their older workers.]
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/12/19/business/main4677571.shtml


The Associated Press reported that, for example, the average United Auto Workers member makes $29.78 per hour at GM, while Toyota pays its workers (most of whom are non-union) about $30 per hour. However, when total benefits (including pensions and health care for workers, retirees and their spouses) is factored in, GM's total hourly labor costs is about $69, while Toyota's is about $48.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/12/19/business/main4677571.shtml

No I'm saying that people should care more about there selves and not be so careless to not be prepared for anything such as storing foods and such is it not a good idea to pack dry clothes on a long trip or is it not a good idea to pack extra clothes.. most people will prepare that way but don't have any store able foods other than whats in there fridge..

Beyond The Shop Floor

Even the roar from Congressional critics about assembly line largesse seemed to miss the fact that (according to the UAW) labor costs account for about 10 percent of the cost of producing a vehicle; the remaining 90 percent includes research and development, parts, advertising, marketing and management overhead.

One major point about compensation and wage disparities: In 2007 GM's CEO Rick Wagoner earned about $15.7 million (including $1.6 million in salary, plus non-equity incentive compensation, benefits and other expenses), a jump of 64 percent compared to 2006. Ford’s CEO Alan Mulally's total compensation in 2007 was $21.7 million, including a $2 million base salary.

Meanwhile, last year Toyota paid its entire 37-member leadership team approximately $22 million. (Stock options and amenities like housing and country club membership weren't factored into the figure.)

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/12/19/business/main4677571.shtml

Its hard to drive anything in a blizzard. Visablility is poor, so I can just guess that the driver didn't know he was in a cemetary in the first place.

I can see your point on a small degree by ppl living within there means, there's nothing wrong with using a store lay-away plan or having one or two credit cards. But packing dry goods on a road trip thats a little to exstream. What the big corparation heads want us to do is scrapple for the crums while they live the luxurious life as if there some kind of god over the less fortunante, is that fair? There's no Kings or Queens here in the USA or are we really somewhere else?

SNL Cold Open

We had some snow the other day and they didnt touch the roads and my mind turned to this thread. Any news on these vile snow plow drivers? anyone in Jail yet?

Nothing yet, these things take time. Knowing the power of unions, it might be that nothing happens.

I did some research on why they didnt plow the roads this weekend and it turns out it was a budget matter. They didnt see fit to work the guys on the weekend. If anyone would have gotten killed it makes them guilty of homocide! Risking peoples lives to save a few bucks just makes my blood boil!

Spidercum? Real mature there buddy.

real one way thinker u are

The evil sanitation workErs are back! What evil deeds am I responsible for now ?

You work to slow and get paid to much