BB as I said you are proving my point about this being about greed and envy.
The guy that attaches the tracks to the machine is important. The guy that fits the engines also as important. The whole of the manual labour workforce do an excellent job but a job that you in most instances train anyone up to do. The top management have taken Catapillar and made it one of the most profitable companies today and considering the financial climate today the workforce should be thanking them. Many other companies are either closing or laying people off.
Would I be happy to sign a new contract that ensured me full employment for the next 6 years ? hell yes, as would most sensible people.
Union leaders simply play on the envy and greed of people. it is human nature but just because someone is earning more than you doesn't mean it is wrong.
I would love to know what the pay and pension the Catapillar union leader gets compared to the workers who pay his wages because in the UK the union leaders also award themselves huge salaries, expenses and pensions that the workers could only dream of !