Bob Lutz Says He And The Other GM Execs Are Underpaid - Do you Agree?

Please do some research before you just qote fox news.

You know since we UAW workers are so incompetent and lazy I found the time to prove you completely wrong,

http://www.aftermarketnews.com/Item/28594/uaw_losing_pay_edge_foreign_automakers_bonuses_boost_wages_in_us_plants_as_detroit_car_companies_struggle.aspx




UAW Losing Pay Edge: Foreign Automakers' Bonuses Boost Wages in U.S. Plants as Detroit Car Companies Struggle

February 1, 2007


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The UAW is losing its edge in pay compared with non-unionized U.S. assembly plant workers for foreign companies, even as Detroit automakers aim for deeper benefit cuts to trim their losses.

In at least one case last year, workers for a foreign automaker for the first time averaged more in base pay and bonuses than UAW members working for domestic automakers, according to an economist for the Center for Automotive Research and figures supplied to the Free Press by auto companies.

In that instance, Toyota Motor Corp. gave workers at its largest U.S. plant bonuses of $6,000 to $8,000, boosting the average pay at the Georgetown, KY, plant to the equivalent of $30 an hour. That compares with a $27 hourly average for UAW workers, most of whom did not receive profit-sharing checks last year. Toyota would not provide a U.S. average, but said its 7,000-worker Georgetown plant is representative of its U.S. operations.

Honda Motor Co. and Nissan Motor Co. are not far behind Toyota and UAW pay levels. Comparable wages have long been one way foreign companies fight off UAW organizing efforts.

But Toyota workers' pay topping that of UAW members comes as the union faces contract negotiations this year with struggling Detroit companies that will seek billions in concessions, partly because they face higher costs for retiree health care and pensions than their foreign-owned competitors.

Who's to blame?

UAW Region 8 Director Gary Casteel said if Toyota workers were paid more than union workers last year, the blame lies with Detroit's auto executives. The companies have lost market share because of past mistakes, which have translated into fewer bonuses for workers, said Casteel, who is on the union's executive board.

"Our profit-sharing formula, I know, is better than theirs -- if our vehicles are selling," Casteel said.

Ron Lare, a 59-year-old Ford employee on pre-retirement leave, said Toyota workers shouldn't get too excited about their wages because bonuses fluctuate. The only thing consistent, Lare said, is union protection.

"The floor beneath their feet is basically what the UAW has won," said Lare of Detroit, who has worked at Ford for 28 1/2 years. "If the UAW gets beaten down, their pay is going to come down

The truth hurts so the only thing you can do is deboost me and not leave a comment or discuss the issue at hand!

They should be paid only in stock. How else are they going to get the motivation to make the company better?

actually no... lets go with how vw did it, they should be paid on customer satisfaction ratings.

They really believe they are underpaid? Is it April Fools Day?

all these greedy ignorant ass clowns think they are underpaid. from wall street, to AIG excecs, to this moron

Then quit, shyt!! There is an *abundance of jobs out there for you Lutz, so if you feel you are underpaid, go find another.

No sympathy here. They head a company that's had to turn to the government to stay afloat, and they expect full pay? Please. When the company becomes profitable, then and only then should they be rewarded.

That´s true, but not only for America, it is true for the whole World.

The rich get richer and the poor get poorer. You know a way to stop that, than you are the men for the next big turnaround and you will have my vote. If not, we will have to life with greedy bastards like Lutz. Ruin a company, use taxpayer money to pay the bills, and ask for a salary increase. Yeah! That’s irony at its best.

This is the problem of America? The individual has the freedom to choose whoever they want to be. In America any goal is achievable as long as you have the drive and determination to reach it. If you don't agree with that, then you should just move to Communist China.

china USED TO HAVE an "iron ricebowl" policy in the old days. but that got dumped, and workers actually have to WORK to make a living now.

many americans now have the attitude of the OLD chinese commie workers, expecting to be supported regardless of how little they do. in the case of CEOs, even gold 'ricebowls' ain't enough. they expect gold dinnerplates and golden parachutes.

Who cares?

I dont care..... more of my tax money was spent on a useless war will i get that back? NO at least this company has paid money back and is ahead of its payment schedule upon paying the rest back so it dose not make me angry at all. I dont care if he thinks he is underpaid he may be if you look at what other CEO's make but again I dont care. If I felt I was underpaid I would leave IF I didnt love what I was doing.

The workers get a lot of $$ but they are not over paid, and they are not the reason GM is doing bad, It is the money people behind this that are pointing the fingers at the middle class, it is the fat cats that screwed up America, its only the land of the free if you don't have to deal with the banks, and yes this asshole is overpaid, how can he even suggest that he deserves more tax payers money! He should get the same as the workers and a % when they are doing well, it's time the middle and lower class stop taking it from the rich bastards that control us, I have no problem with rich people, as long as you are not rich from one of the banks from robing the people blind.

Mr. Robert Lutz should show some modesty; he was part of the management that drove GM in the ground for too many years not to be guilty.
He has not shown any guidance so far in getting it right. He simply needs all the money he can get to finance his jet flying hobby.
Sorry, but that guy has to go a.s.a.p., he is not worth it, though he did a good job in the 60's/70's.

What Maximum Bob needs to understand is the market isnt paying them, the US Taxpayer is. GM and UAW's management drove this company into the ground. while this sad story goes back decades (IMHO it began with their reaction to the first oil shock, Bob and many others have been in charge for a long time and failed. How's that acquisition of Hummer doing? The waste that Saturn became? etc, etc etc

there are plenty of able leaders willing to turn GM around and if Bob is unhappy he should leave. Too much entitlement and no vision and commitment

I mean they make I think 500,000 a year...that's overpaid? Maybe if you own a Jet or 2 like Lutz does. If they had half a brain they can trade stocks and options on their own like I do, then sit back relax and work from home. But that would involve growing a set of balls and not asking for handouts or being a good corporate slave/sled dog bitching all day.

They shouldn't get paid for the crap there building right now.

Bitch Lutz should be happy because he still have a paying job.

Oh yeah, he should resign if he feel he could better somewhere else.

Lutz the putz.

And GM wonders why everyone hates them?

That is like saying Sarah Palin is intelligent.

With the way they ran Gm down the toilet, they're lucky to be paid.

Selling cars = pay raises and bonuses! Fundamental principle.

Bob lutz my be a good car guy for GM but he is far removed as a spoke person! lol

The quoted UAW article is inaccurate as it doesn't address all pay and benefit issues. If you're really interested in both sides of the story do more research with an open mind.

As far as the topic of pay goes, I find it difficult to buy the argument that paying the executives of a troubled company less than their competitors might cause talented people to jump ship. After all, it was these "talented people" that caused them to get into trouble in the first place. I also cringe when bailed-out financial institutions pay their top level talent millions of dollars in bonuses when these very same people could very well have been out of a job had their company not been bailed out with taxpayer dollars. I've never seen an uneployment check for millions of dollars, ever. I have no qualms about people earning what they're worth, but there is something out of whack with the executive compensation system in the US.