What does it matter what costs are included or not in the "salary" statistics. All that matters is that the chart data reflects the same methodolgy for Honda, Toyota and Nissan. Apples for apples.
This is ten years old but it seemingly buttresses the argument that todays high ball figures are indeed correct. Total Compensation: $46.17 per hour The total of both cash compensation and benefits provided to GM hourly workers in 1998 amounted to approximately $46.17 per active hour worked. This total is made of two main components: cash compensation ($29.15) and benefits and government required programs ($17.02). The average annual cash compensation for hourly employees in 1998 was $29.15 per hour. Included in average earnings are straight-time pay, COLA, night-shift premiums, overtime premiums, holiday and vacation pay and performance and profit sharing. In 1996, GM workers logged 71,621 in overtime hours for an average of 435 hours per worker; in 1997, 69,037 overtime hours for an average of 435 hours per worker; and in 1998, 62,004 overtime hours for an average of 457 hours per worker. Benefit and government required programs in 1998 added an additional $17.02 for each active hour worked. These costs include: group life insurance, disability benefits, Supplemental Unemployment Benefits (SUB), Job Security (JOBS), pensions, unemployment compensation, Social Security taxes, and hospital, surgical, prescription drug, dental, and vision care benefits. 1998 Averaqe Wage: (all job classifications) $21.18 per hour (includes COLA) Under the 1996 labor agreement, base hourly wages for a GM vehicle were increased from $17.93 to $20.12 for a GM vehicle assembler. This included two three percent increases in base wages (on Sept. 15, 1997 and Sept. 14, 1998) and a fold-in of a $1.03 per hour cost-of-living increase. Base hourly wages for a GM machine repair electrician increased from $21.02 per hour to $23.70. This included two three percent increases in base wages (on Sept. 15, 1997 and Sept. 14, 1998), an additional $0.30 per hour increase on Sept. 15, 1997 and a fold-in of a $1.03 per hour cost-of-living increase. As of March 1, 1999, the cost-of-living allowance was $0.80 per hour. The average wage for a GM vehicle assembler as of March 1, 1999 was $20.12 (base wage) plus $0.80 (COLA) or $20.92 per hour. Also as of March 1, 1999, the average wage of a GM machine repair electrician was $23.70 (base wage) plus $0.80 (COLA) or $24.50 per hour. http://www.media.gm.com/division/uaw/gm_wages.htm
These figures make much more sense than the current propaganda. Surely you can't believe there's been almost a $30 increase in benefits in the last ten years to validate that first statement you made. The base pay has basically stagnated. One reason why GM hasn't updated its page in ten years may be that it represents the all-time high.
Base pay is subject to COLA so I'd guess in 10 years it's up by 30%. You posted some figures inflation adjusted. Not appropriate for this type of discussion. Wage growth is all about inflation.
Let's research a bit but 1. your OP STILL uses adjusted wages. Christ if they were 13% ex inflation they could've been twice that or more actual and 2. we need to isolate a SPECIFIC worker class. Obvious there's great variance between differing job skill comp. I think the 1998 GM release is for ALL assembly positions, no?
Wrong. The wages presented are real dollars. The inflation-adjusted sentence is for a different time frame altogether and only deals with percentage change, not dollars. Don't know, that's the problem. There is no definitive, complete up-to-date source with breakdowns. Your ten-year-old page is the most complete I've seen, but it's sadly ten years old.
I don't think so. A notation from the article itself under the yearly table states, "United Auto Workers. Wages in constant 2002 dollars."
A better than average take out of the New Republic but they miss the mark too. I'll contend that workers cannot fund their insurance along with pension at just 10 bucks an hour. That $1600 per month would barely cover family health considering the unions perk laden coverage. We already have a much higher figure than $10 from the 1998 GM release. Keep in mind GM is a publicly traded stock-those figures had better have more cred than non-official guesstimates. http://www.tnr.com/politics/story.html?id=1026e955-541c-4aa6-bcf2-56dfc3323682