What I think Wickeddoll is saying is that it's fundamentally unfair that the
packages of certain workers are protected and the packages of others are
exposed.  I agree.

You might also consider the drive-by nature of some of these CEOs.  Look at
Mullaly.  What sort of loyalty has he demonstrated?  Little.  Ford's line
workers have been with the company for years.  They get the shaft and his
parachute is escrowed?  Give me a break.

And, in fact, the fundamental problem is that we have "defined benefit"
plans in place that are left unfunded and this situation is ignored.  As
long as it's "let the good times roll," nobody worries about it. If the
industry or company runs into a problem, the unfunded future obligations get
tossed and the workers get the shaft.

Walter Reuther's original vision for pensions and healthcare was to have the
auto manufacturers pay a certain amount of money to the union and union
would manage the pension (defined contribution plan).  Some unions do
(another opportunity for corruption, it is true) and these don't face the
same problem as Detroit's UAW workers.  The manufacturers rejected it
because it represented increased up-front costs.  I worked at a defined
contribution job for a while - a state government.  When I left with just a
few years in, I was given a check for my contributions, since I would not be
staying to participate in the benefits later.