Article

2012-08-05 Economy

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Posted by Bobby 2012-08-05 13:31|| || Front Page|| [11140 views ] Top

#1 Caterpillar helps oppress Palestinians. Outfoxes unions. Is there anything they can't do?

Posted by g(r)omgoru 2012-08-05 14:17|| 2012-08-05 14:17|| Front Page Top

#2 Bobby, I think Southwest Airlines is unionized?

Posted by Glenmore 2012-08-05 14:28|| 2012-08-05 14:28|| Front Page Top

#3 and the WaPo hemorrhages money, kept afloat only by their Kaplan test-prep biz.

Posted by Frank G 2012-08-05 14:35|| 2012-08-05 14:35|| Front Page Top

#4 Glenmore - I believe you are right.

In contrast to non-union competitor JetBlue Airways, Southwest maintains its profitability and low-fare, low-cost business model while being heavily unionized. The Southwest Airline Pilots' Association, a union not affiliated with the Air Line Pilots Association, represents the airline's pilots. The Aircraft Maintenance Technicians' are represented by the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA). Customer Service Agents and Reservation Agents are represented by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Union (IAM). Flight Dispatchers, Flight Attendants, Ramp agents and Operations agents are represented by the Transport Workers Union (TWU).

But their flight attendants clean up the cabins, so I think the work rules must be a bit more reasonable.

About ten years ago, I read a study about why Southwest was so profitable. The one thing that stuck in my head was that their pilots flew twice as much as the older, traditional airlines. Yet they manage a pretty good safety record!

Posted by Bobby 2012-08-05 15:51|| 2012-08-05 15:51|| Front Page Top

#5 I surely was not going to waste my time reading the whole thing. I'm sure he wedged that magic word "stakeholders" in there somewhere.

Posted by M. Murcek 2012-08-05 16:22|| 2012-08-05 16:22|| Front Page Top

#6 Classic socialist drivel. Good job Cat.

Posted by 49 Pan 2012-08-05 16:35|| 2012-08-05 16:35|| Front Page Top

#7 Varoom! Varoom! Clank, Clank, Clank!

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Go CAT!

Posted by Besoeker 2012-08-05 16:52|| 2012-08-05 16:52|| Front Page Top

#8 The original author missed the chance to mention Rachel Corrie. I am surprised.

Posted by Eric Jablow 2012-08-05 17:25|| 2012-08-05 17:25|| Front Page Top

#9 Keep the Blood Suckers out of American know how and work ethic and there is limit to what those companies can do.

Posted by DarthVader 2012-08-05 17:28|| 2012-08-05 17:28|| Front Page Top

#10 In the language of socialist economics, the strike gave workers market power.
FIGY

In the language of capitalist economics, each party voluntarily takes part in a transaction that leaves both better off. Otherwise, the transaction does not take place.

Posted by Nimble Spemble 2012-08-05 18:14|| 2012-08-05 18:14|| Front Page Top

#11 If it can't sell its products at above-market prices or offer its investors below-market returns, it can't afford to pay its workers above-market wages.

Unless in a fascist-crony environment where they nationalize the company for the 'workers' and then stick the extraordinary expenses and loses upon the backs of the common citizen. Never happen here though. /sarc

Posted by Procopius2k 2012-08-05 19:50|| 2012-08-05 19:50|| Front Page Top

23:36 Zhang Fei
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