 |
Friday, January 9, 2004
Those God-given rights to paychecks
Pity the chief executive of a technology company.
The boss is just trying to do the right thing: Cut costs, improve profit and make life better for shareholders.
And if this effort requires sacrifice from workers, then they say so be it.
That was the message we heard this week. A consortium of technology companies urged Congress not to restrict the movement of jobs overseas where labor costs are lower.
"There is no job that is America's God-given right anymore," said Carly Fiorina, chief executive of the Hewlett-Packard Co. "We have to compete for jobs."
But the proposal in Congress is not some massive new regulatory scheme. Its design is simpler, requiring companies to disclose the location of call centers used for transactions or technical support. That disclosure would shift the power to the consumer. We could decide on the merits of that call in the context of whatever product we're buying.
We have another idea. Why not export a few chief executives' suites? We're certain there's qualified folks somewhere in a far-off land who might run a company for far less than what CEOs are paid in this country.
Preposterous? Yes, of course. Then again, perhaps even top jobs (and top-dollar paychecks) are no longer a God-given right.
My web site
My Yahoo!
Google
· King County Charter: Looking for clarity
· Burke-Gilman Trail: Filling a gap
· The Tax-Cut Frame: Both sides pander
· Government crackdowns on journalists threaten democracy
· Palin's speech an unqualified success
· Stereotypes hurt the mentally ill
· Sarah Palin has plenty to say
· 'Stand Up to Cancer' responds to government's failure
· Palin talks the talk but can she walk the walk?
· Questions about Palin's resume are legit
· The unity on display in Denver
· If you're going to throw God at teens, also toss some condoms their way
more· Weekend VEB: Republicans will win; Take on convention, plus reader comments, Burke-Gilman and Sarah Palin
· David Horsey on GOP; Burke-Gilman, Charter Amendment, "Tax frame" plus reader comments on buses and viaduct
· David Horsey on GOP; Morning preview: Burke-Gilman, Port recall plus reader comments on buses and viaduct
101 Elliott Ave. W.
Seattle, WA 98119
(206) 448-8000
Home Delivery: (206) 464-2121 or (800) 542-0820
seattlepi.com serves about 1.7 million unique visitors
and 30 million page views each month.
Send comments to newmedia@seattlepi.com
Send investigative tips to iteam@seattlepi.com
©1996-2008 Seattle Post-Intelligencer
Terms of Use/Privacy Policy
