[quote=CA renter][quote=dbapig][quote=CONCHO]I have a college degree but because I don’t work for govt nor GM, I won’t be getting pension after I retire. Meanwhile auto workers graduated from high school and start working at car factory right away and end up with pension. I’m sure working on factory floor has its difficulties and all BUT it doesn’t make sense. That’s unsustainable. We can’t sustain what’s unsustainable.
Wow what an amazing example of the way we think here in the US. Note that pensions are common across Western Europe (and used to be here too!), where lots of good cars and other products come from. However here in the US they are considered “unsustainable” relics of a bygone era. Rather than thinking — “Hey why don’t we all have a pension like the autoworkers? We should organize and hassle our politicians to make that happen!” we instead think “those darned overpaid spoiled autoworkers! They should be totally f***ed like the rest of us and have to work until they drop!”
And most people here think this way. Go ahead and call me crazy for thinking otherwise, I’m used to it.[/quote]
Ok let’s say pension isn’t a crazy idea. Can you please tell me why I don’t have it? I have a college degree but don’t work for Govt./GM. BTW, Govt/GM are prime examples how things should NOT be managed. I would love to get pension so how can I get it?
It’s NOT sustainable. Look at what happened to GM.
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You (and anyone else without pension/healthcare benefits) don’t have it because you are unwilling to fight for it. Unfortunately, Americans are lazy and apathetic, and all too eager to take the easy way out. They like to let someone else do the heavy lifting for them. Why weren’t you applying for these union jobs during the boom years?
For decades, the unions have done all the heavy lifting that has enabled the U.S. to have a large and stable middle class. Most people don’t realize that unions also protect the wages, benefits and rights of workers in non-union jobs because the non-union employers have to compete with union employers.
If you don’t have a decent compensation package, find an employer that does offer what you want. Join a union and fight for your own rights and the rights of other workers.
BTW, I think Concho hit the nail on the head. We should not compete with third-world wage earners. We need **fair trade** so we can trade with other countries that have similar environmental and labor protections and standards. Let’s encourage competition that is based on **quality** not on how cheaply (and poorly) something can be made.
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