Re:Why the U.S. can't build icebreaking ships
by vlovich123 on Thursday September 26, 2024 @06:07PM
(#41664020)
For what it’s worth American workers as a whole make ~20x what Turkish workers do. While American shipbuilders make more than the average while Turkish ones are closer to their average countrymen, the 20x discrepancy in salaries doesn’t seem limited to shipbuilding. So not sure about the characterization of “sucking on the teat of taxpayers” per se vs overall higher regulations and salaries in the US.
Re:Why the U.S. can't build icebreaking ships
by cyberax on Thursday September 26, 2024 @06:48PM
(#41664371)
> For what it’s worth American workers as a whole make ~20x what Turkish workers do.
It's about 7x.
> 20x discrepancy in salaries
Not salaries. The end-product costs.
Re:Why the U.S. can't build icebreaking ships
by vlovich123 on Friday September 27, 2024 @03:28AM
(#41667346)
Average national salary in the US $60k [1] vs 5k for turkey so closer to 11-12x (the coasts typically pay closer to 70k). So at most unions are costing US built ships to be twice as expensive due to unions and overall higher US wages are responsible for the price difference - difficult to compete on price with people that are willing to work for 1/10th your wage unless you can automate significantly more than them.
[1]: https://www.usatoday.com/money/blueprint/business/hr-payroll...
Re:Why the U.S. can't build icebreaking ships
by cyberax on Friday September 27, 2024 @06:43PM
(#41676251)
I looked up the salary for qualified machinists in both countries, not the average.
Re:Why the U.S. can't build icebreaking ships
by xyzzyz on Thursday September 26, 2024 @11:43PM
(#41666061)
US-built cars do not cost 20 times that of Turkey-built cars.
Re:Why the U.S. can't build icebreaking ships
by vlovich123 on Friday September 27, 2024 @03:23AM
(#41667313)
US built cars are automated like crazy, have a lot of experience scaling, and save significantly on shipping costs.
With these unions ("Boilermakers")? No chance. They can officially give their jobs to their _children_ upon retiring.
There is a waiting list for apprenticeships. You have to complete 8000 hours of apprenticeship, even if you are already qualified.
> By cushy contracts this means that the amount of wealth extraction from workers is not as great as it is in other American industries.
WA is ordering ferries at $1.5B per item. They cost 20 _times_ less if ordered from Turkey. This is not "wealth extraction from workers", this is "sucking on the teat of taxpayers".