After reading the Feb. 23 story “Boeing managers to get big bonuses,” we see just one of the reasons for income inequity in the U.S.
Boeing announced it is giving non-executive managers bonuses ranging from 12.5 to 22.5 percent of their annual salaries, whereas they only gave the machinists a 3.1 percent bonus. This bonus is exponentially higher for managers given that their base salaries are almost one-third higher than machinists. Boeing said that in the corporate world, the higher you go up the ladder, the greater percentage you receive of the company’s profits. This ladder puts the CEO at close to a $27 million salary each year. This, according to the Puget Sound Business Journal, is more than Boeing pays in taxes after tax exemptions and loopholes.
Why are bonuses not equitable? No wonder they have labor issues.
The bigger issue is why are we letting our elected representatives continue to extend tax exemptions when Boeing’s profit allows huge bonuses to top management. When they don’t pay their share of taxes based on their profits, we the people are left to cut crucial needs such as roads and school funding. I would say we are paying for their bonuses.
Doug Long
Camas
