[QUOTE=tengineer1;183672]ombugge,
You must understand by now that the average US worker has been brainwashed into believing he/she is the cause of US corporate lack of profits due to their high wages. [/quote]
I have known that for a long time, but been too polite to use the word “brainwashed”. Now that you mention it, that is not the only subject this applies to.
There is a kernel of truth to that argument. The average US worker doesn’t have access to the same level of technical training as that of their European counterparts at little cost so one gets less expertise per dollar spent. Additionally, Europeans for the most part come with a built in medical program and social safety net which reduces the bottom line for those that hire them.
In most North West European countries education is free, incl. at University level. Cheap loans and Grants are available to cover other expenses as well. In addition you have near free medical. Pension and social security is covered true your taxes.
Yes it means high tax burden, but you don’t go bankrupt if you get hurt, or even crippled and your Insurance company find some way of cancelling your insurance plan.
I believe you may be wrong on the cost to employers though. In Norway anyhow there are a hefty Employer contribution towards the Social Welfare system. I don’t know the figure now, but when I had to deal with it, we multiplied the direct wage costs with 1.45 to get actual “Cost of Labour”. Maybe comparable to the cost of medical insurance, 401K etc. for an American employer??
Since European seafarers are mostly “permanently” employed, salaried and the work schedule is even time, with full pay and per diem when off, holiday pay, travel expenses to/from work site anywhere in the world etc.etc., it is hard to believe that US “Labour cost” is actually more.
(No, I DO NOT say that this apply to ALL foreign Seafarers)
The USA seems determined to hold their workers to the wages and qualifications of 3rd world countries in order to “compete”. In the convoluted world of US policy maintaining anything other than the lowest standards is evil and socialistic.
More than one oil company given the choice of hiring a European contractor in the USA or a US contractor chose the European as they are more cost effective. The oil companies don’t really care how much a contractors people get paid per hour or day, they just care about total cost/job performance.
I will not comment on the first part, but having spent a lot of time explaining to “Marine” people in Oilcos, American and otherwise, that a small boat with low fuel consumption at full speed and at low day rate is NOT NECESSARILY the cheapest and most efficient to the Charterer. How much of the time does an AHTS need to use “full power”? How much of the time does the same vessel spend idling in the field, waiting for somebody to make up their mind what they want him to do? I,m sure somebody here can chip in with their estimate.
Conclusion: A boat with large and diverse cargo capacity and fuel efficient at slow speed, cost far less to the Charterer than to have to hire two smaller boats to do the same job.
PS> I was asked by a pised off Captain on an OSV: Do you know what an Offshore half-hour is. You know, “I’ll be back to you in half-an-hour”???
His own Answer; "Anything from 15 min. to FUKING ETERNITY"
