That isn’t a question you’re likely to hear.  Much more common is the claim that corporate executives make too much money. But it turns out that union leaders aren’t doing so bad themselves (and their salaries come from the dues of union members, not company profits):



  • The Plumbers paid former General President Martin Maddaloni $1.3 million in total compensation, and Secretary-Treasurer Thomas Patchell almost $900,000 – after they were ousted for disastrous pension investments in a Florida hotel. According to the Association for Union Democracy, the buyout agreement included “salaries and benefits plus free use of cars and other perks through the end of 2006.”
  • AFSCME President Gerald McEntee recorded total compensation just shy of $585,000.
  • General President of the Laborers Terence O’Sullivan made more than $528,000.
  • National Education Association President Reg Weaver made almost $439,000.
  • The presidents of unions for players in the National Football League and the National Basketball Association made more than $1 million each. The NFL union head, Eugene Upshaw, made $2.4 million. Moreover, Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb received $900,000 from his AFL-CIO affiliated union as a player representative.

More here.