[legion]

Jeff, these disparities exist because the unions do not like change and prefer to stick with antiquated job descriptions. If the shop was not union, the situation could be more fluid and pay/job descriptions could be continually adjusted to better match reality.

I've had my pay raised a few times just because I have skills that my company desires and they don't want me looking around for greener pastures. I've also had friends have their salaries stagnate (not cut) because their skills were no longer in demand.

At the machine shop my friend used to work at, the two most skilled and productive guys were two recent Polish immigrants. Management badly wanted to pay them more because they did the bulk of the work and did not want them to leave. Alas, the union tied their hands, and because they did not have "seniority", they could not be paid what they were worth. The did have the pleasure of overpaying an alcoholic who rarely showed up for work, and when he did it was just to "injure" himself so he could go back on disability. Alas, the union tied their hands, and because he had "seniority", they could not fire him nor pay him less (and they certainly tried). Of course, he had "job security", and in having a secured job, couldn't be bothered to do any actual work any longer.