It seems as if Wall Street executives weren't the only ones bringing down big money over the last couple of years.
The president of a maritime workers union - a labor organization dogged for years by declining membership and a federal racketeering lawsuit - reported receiving $1.2 million in compensation last year but abruptly gave back much of the money in April after his big payout was disclosed to the government, according to federal documents and interviews.
Even after giving back more than half his compensation, Richard J. Hughes Jr. of the International Longshoreman's Association still earned $494,635 in salary and expenses in 2008, putting him among the top two dozen highest-salaried labor executives outside of professional sports, according to public records.
I wonder if any enterprising journalists are out there right now writing stories about those other 23 union leaders. Maybe we can get a little ACORN-inspired bus tour of rich union bosses houses. I'm not going to hold my breath for either because I'd end up unconscious on the floor.
I'm not saying that folks, even union heads, shouldn't make as much money as they legally can. However, when Wall Street CEOs and corporate heads get ripped for their millions in compensation, it's more than a little bit hypocritical to give others a pass. What's good for the goose and all.
Related to that is this very good post from James Sherk at The Foundry that shows just how large an advantage unions already have when it comes to unionizing a work place. His bullet points, especially, are worth keeping in your back pocket the next time someone tells you how the companies have all the advantages.