Nothing really ever changes...
I remember saying (and everybody thought I was crazy) that the top execs' pay (and total compensation packages) should be made public. If it's a public corporation, this information is available to a shareholder (or should be, legally).
Then, pay the employees a percentage of the top guy's total compensation package. For example, (where I used to work), for several years in a row, the top guy...it was 'estimated'... was averaging $35M per year in total compensation. So, as a NB captain with 25 years service...pay me one percent of that...yes, just one percent.
Forget sick leave, vacation, pension...forget everything...just pay me the cash...1% of what the top guy makes. If I'm sick and can't fly, too bad, I don't get paid. No vacation pay, etc. Just pay me my 1% of his pay for the hours I'm supposed to fly.
I've always found it amazing how a company is 'going bankrupt' and the employees give, give, give to bail it out. All the while, the execs are not only getting pay raises, but bonuses as well, as reward for convincing the unions to give, give, give.
What happened with pensions in the U.S. is nothing short of criminal. But, it occurred, the execs profited by it, and that's the end of it. Now, the taxpayers are sending checks to these guys, since PBGC is in such bad shape. This, I feel, is wrong, too. But, once one or two companies figured out how to work the system (i.e. pay off politicians), everyone (many companies) stuck their hands in the cookie jar (bankrupted the company, raided pension funds, etc.) and left the taxpayers holding the empty bag.
PantLoad