WTF American car workers make more than University Professors with PhDs!!!

I think this is a disgrace to the College and University professor of the U.S. But the one thing this worker don't have is job security. The professor at least have their security; but I still think college professor need to be paid more.

— Lexus (View Profile)

Posted on 7/13/2007 5:54:56 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 7   

The numbers are wrong. The auto workers figures include huge benefits payements that the workers don't take home. But it does make sense to stay away from UAW.

— chewy (View Profile)

Posted on 7/13/2007 6:16:04 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 4   

omg, is this true?
I'm a God damn senior engineer and don't make even close to $140k. This is just disgusting!

— Designer1 (View Profile)

Posted on 7/13/2007 6:39:32 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 5   

No wonder US Big 3 cannot profit :-P It truly pisses me off that our teachers are always on the short end when it comes to pay. There is a CHANGE going on. Why do you think GM and Ford are buying out current UAW workers. As well as pushing early retirement.

The UAW is responsible for the insane compensation and of course GM's pay has to be competitive to Ford and Chrysler thus they are all high. And Vise Versa...

— Porschinator (View Profile)

Posted on 7/13/2007 7:04:37 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 4   

Job security is a very subjective term. In comparison to other countries yes US auto workers have less "job security" but in comparison to the rest of the United States they have among the best.

The French 35 hour work week and job for life is defunct and is mostly an element of French vanity. Compared to the "real world" of United States employment their jobs are relatively secure hence the Ford Way Forward employee buyout.

US automobile companies have reached the point where they too are vanity industries. They exist only out of habit and not economic viability. They are terribly mismanaged and incapable of standing on their own without government subsidies, favorable legislation, and a bailout always in the wings if things were to get too tough.

Oh yeah workin for the big 3 is like having your head in a vice. Please. The airlines and the automobile manufacturers are privatized socialisim. GM is a health insurance company that just so happens to make cars. Wal-Mart's growth is starting to level off and expect within 5 years our tax dollars starting to coddle the nation's largest private employer.

The education system in this country is also an incredible farce. I'm about to bail from UC Santa Barbara to Berkeley next year. At the start of every class professors always start off by saying something to the effect of "we used to do it this way but now we're going to make it easier." But then again what do you expect when you really can't be fired for your performace as a professor.

There is no genuity or business savvy left anywhere and companies only aspire to be shrinking violets as they pretend to pull lint out out their pockets.

— SleeperZZZ (View Profile)

Posted on 7/13/2007 8:15:38 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 4   

Where did these numbers come from??? The highest number I have seen is around $76,000 including all benefits. $146,520 isn't right.

— drew630 (View Profile)

Posted on 7/13/2007 8:49:35 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

Why do you guys think American automakers are bit**ing all the time?

These workers go to work slap together car. They only work a certain amount of hours per day, and enjoy their mandatory hour lunches.

Think about what kind of life you could live in Detroit on 140k?

Then again, I know heavy equipment operators in NY making $97 an hour, with great benifits and plenty of overtime. So its all relative.

— no1listensanyway (View Profile)

Posted on 7/13/2007 8:51:58 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

its funny, you goto college, earn a degree or two, get out to get a respected job only to make less than the paid-by-the-hour technician or machinist. overtime and weekend pay is bullshit. not to mention having to pay back loans and it would take years before you catch up.

by the way, its like this for most industries.

— gsh23 (View Profile)

Posted on 7/14/2007 4:19:13 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

Then why do they always complain?!

— M53R (View Profile)

Posted on 7/14/2007 8:52:23 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

Unions were once a good thing, but like any organization have become too powerful and will ultimately lead to the demise of the very things may have fought for, the working class. The big three auto companies are losing market share for a number of reasons, but the expense of paying American workers and providing for their health care is one of the largest. If only the workers put forth the effort that their salaries suggest they should, American cars would be in a much stronger position.

— LJ745 (View Profile)

Posted on 7/14/2007 1:29:46 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

Say what you will about the numbers, but don't blame them on executives skewing the numbers. If you read the article those figures are for hourly wage earners only.

As to my personal opinion about it- the figures are entirely abhorrent- little more than a disgusting non-meritocracy gone awry.

— cdoke (View Profile)

Posted on 7/14/2007 2:56:10 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

This is what happens when our values include very little respect for science and education.

— EnnNorak (View Profile)

Posted on 7/14/2007 3:03:43 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

Average is almost always used to skew the data. It's bogus in this instance without the median shown as well. If Bill Gates is sitting in a room with 4 people that work in a WalMart store the average net worth of those 5 people is between 5-10 billion dollars. The median net worth for those same 5 people, well, that's almost certainly below $10,000. If I don't see a median for the UAW members then I'm not putting any stock in the numbers presented. They're phony.

As for an outrage in salaries on a university campus, checkout what the coaches make compared to the professors...

— Bonkers (View Profile)

Posted on 12/4/2008 9:04:15 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1