Wages up for the well-off, but not for others

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.csmonitor.com/2004/0211/p03s01-usec.html

'Rich-poor gap' relates to long-term forces, but could hurt Bush as it reaches record level prior to election.

By David R. Francis | Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor

Most US workers saw their earnings fall or stagnate last year, with those at the bottom of the income scale hit hardest.
The trend, coming alongside a slack job market, explains why many Americans feel left out of the economic recovery - and why President Bush faces a tough sell with his campaign-trail message that there is "good strong growth." Democratic rivals point to "two Americas," one for the rich, one for the poor.

Whether concerns over widening wage inequality will damage Mr. Bush remains to be seen. But the gap between workers in the 90th earning percentile and the 10th has never been wider. That opens the door for a populist message by a Democratic challenger to resonate, if job creation doesn't pick up.

Beyond the election, the stalling progress for the bottom half of American workers represents a challenge to the health of an economy traditionally driven by a growing consumer class.

more

[liberalnurse]

1. Nurse Union 1199 in Ohio, SEIU

just ratified in the next contract that there will be a 3 year wage freeze. Nurses will get some lump sum after the 3 years......Overtime is still a go.

[UpInArms]

2. here's a kicker

if people don't want to have their jobs cut, they can take a pay cut

http://www.thewbalchannel.com/education/2836233/detail.html

Mayor Offers Compromise To Avert Teacher Layoffs

BALTIMORE -- Mayor Martin O'Malley, hoping to avert sweeping layoffs, has asked teachers to accept a 3.5 percent pay cut for the rest of the year with the promise the money will be repaid at some time in the near future. WBAL-TV 11 News education reporter Tim Tooten said the mayor's proposal nearly cuts in half the amount of the pay cut teachers rejected Friday. O'Malley said this was an important step toward solvency for the school system. He said the proposal would allow them to finish out the school year and avoid more layoffs.

School CEO Bonnie Copeland said if the teachers accept this, the school system would make every effort to avoid layoffs for this year.

Union representatives expressed gratitude toward O'Malley for stepping into the issue. They called it "a giant step forward," but warned it still must be ratified by the union membership. On Friday, teachers rejected two cost-saving proposals that schools chief Bonnie Copeland said were necessary to save more than a thousand jobs. More than 4,000 city teachers braved freezing rain and traffic jams to vote. Copeland has warned that she would be forced to layoff 1,200 employees - most of them teachers - if the union refused to accept a 6 percent to 7 percent pay cut through June 30, with an offer to pay them back in 2005, or eight days unpaid furlough.

...more...

[skippysmom]

3. This is such a huge issue

The Dems HAVE to hammer this home all year. Otherwise we will become like pre-revolutionary France.

[MI Cherie]

4. Why is it ...

... we never hear of millionaires or billionaires taking a pay cut?

After all, 1% of $1,000,000,000 is way more savings for the company than 3% of $50,000 x 1,000 workers.

If someone notices, someone else cries "class warfare!"

:shrug:

[FormerOstrich]

6. that's my thoughts, exactly....

For many years we heard the CEOs earned their ludicrous salaries due to the revved up performance of the companies stock. Yet, now, the stock doesn't perform in the same manner, nor are the return on investment in the same league. Sooooo......it seems to me that they can no longer be eligible for such salaries. I say CUT THEIR PAY!! You'll never convince me that one person (almost always male) earns (deserves) a multi-million dollar compensation plan. Once again, I say CUT THEIR PAY...OUTSOURCE THEIR JOBS....BRING EM INTO THE REAL WORLD WHERE THE REST OF US LIVE...

[JPace]

5. AWOL's regime is toast.....

the insecurities people are feeling about
their ability to support their families in
the future is palpable.

Just another failure of the repugs to identify
with the majority. They were so busy celebrating
power and wars that they discounted the pain
that Americans are feeling.

I feel such pride that Democrats are coming
together in such an organized manner with one
goal in mind...to beat AWOL.

rOve must be sweating.