02-25-2011, 07:41 PM
I dashed off my comment in haste...let me try to rephrase. Some folks think all corporations are bad/greedy. Some folks think unions and their members are always bad/greedy. Some folks think the answers to all of America's woes can be found in corporate success. Others think greater pay and benefits for workers is the answer. I think we can all agree, however, that electric rates on our Island are pretty high and something needs to be done to rein them in.
It's easy to say "cut management salaries," but the actual dollars you'd reap wouldn't make much of a difference spread out over a large employee base. Lots of folks in our area have had their jobs eliminated, or their salaries and benefits reduced over the past few years. Should their electric rates be raised to subsidize benefits for someone else?
Like Rob, I admire the work these folks do and believe they deserve good wages and benefits -- yes, higher than the "average worker." But I worked at a utility where union employees frequently made six figure salaries (more than their managers in some cases) and still tried to rally customer support for increases when it came to contract renewal time. I don't know who's got the more valid position in this case, so I was just saying that before I lend my support to either the corporation or its workers, I'd want more details about the workers pay scales and benefits.
It's easy to say "cut management salaries," but the actual dollars you'd reap wouldn't make much of a difference spread out over a large employee base. Lots of folks in our area have had their jobs eliminated, or their salaries and benefits reduced over the past few years. Should their electric rates be raised to subsidize benefits for someone else?
Like Rob, I admire the work these folks do and believe they deserve good wages and benefits -- yes, higher than the "average worker." But I worked at a utility where union employees frequently made six figure salaries (more than their managers in some cases) and still tried to rally customer support for increases when it came to contract renewal time. I don't know who's got the more valid position in this case, so I was just saying that before I lend my support to either the corporation or its workers, I'd want more details about the workers pay scales and benefits.