US car workers' pay

Some people on the Right who oppose the idea of bailing out the US car makers like to blame the trade unions in the US car industry for its poor performance. They thus exaggerate the amount that car workers are earning to suggest that they are over-paid and so this is why their company is in difficulty.

In fact, Ezra Klein points out that the workers earn about $24 an hour (£18) and about $10 in non-wage benefits. This pales in comparison to the money that CEOs and Wall Street figures earn. The slight-of-hand of right-wing commentators is to ignore the obscene levels of excessive pay in these sectors and try to focus on an exaggerated figure for UAW workers' compensation instead to try and manipulate the public view of the issue.