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Leroy M. Martinez of Denver writes:

Why are people surprised when they see people like the United Pilots upset because they are working on a renegotiated contract and their CEO get’s a $40 Millions compensation package. Does anyone see a pattern here. This has been going on for as long as I remember. Companies need to stop giving their CEO large amounts of monies while their lower level workers get the shaft.

This letter has not been edited.

READER COMMENTS

and I think I should be given control over what you make as well. Fair is fair.

If the CEO can greatly improve the bottom line by paying you less, shouldn't he be rewarded? Doesn't he rightlfully deserve a percentage of what he takes from you? This is the free market in action - what's the problem???

I wonder how much of the government bailout for the airlines (after 9/11) went directly to line the pockets of CEO's? In a true "free market" wouldn't those airlines have gone out of business?

The history of CEOs making outrageous sums has only been over the course of the last 20-30 years. CEO pay skyrocketed from 42 times the average worker's salary in 1980 to 531 times the average worker's salary in 2000 - and is still continuing to grow. In the 1980s and early 1990s, compensation committees were often made up of other CEOs, so there was no incentive to get those numbers in line with reality - and even CEOs who are failures for their corporations are getting this kind of pay - along with platinum parachutes when they are finally fired (often to work for another corporation). If the minimum wage had risen at the same pace as CEO pay, it would now stand at $22.61! Even stockholders are becoming outraged - in tact, there is a bill under consideration that would allow stockholders to vote on CEO compensation. One final point - if offshoring is such a good idea, why haven't we seen upper management jobs - including those of CEOs - offshored as well?

Mary

You mentioned off-shoring in your post. Not ONE major corp. even answers their phones anymore. You are immediately transferred to another country, left to solve a problem with someone you can't understand.

I attempted to reach SOMEONE IN THIS COUNTRY at AT&T. I even went to the trouble to call headquarters in New York City and I got an automated answer and was made to go through an extensive menu and was STILL transferred to INDIA!

They want you to buy their product but refuse to talk to you. UNBELIEVABLE!!!!

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