Originally Posted by tincan

Pension fall short for front-line workers, but not CEOs: Pensions have become a major source of concern for rank-and-file airline workers, but that's not necessarily so for airline CEOs. At United Airlines, workers face losing up to $3 billion in promised pension benefits as the carrier shifts its pension obligations to the feds. But over at Continental, when CEO Gordon Bethune retired last year he took a $22 million lump-sum payment from his retirement plan, according to MSN Money. Continental's pension plan is currently underfunded by $1.58 billion, though that carrier has been making progress in shoring up workers pensions. Still, "That situation with Bethune just crystallizes the whole unfairness of it all," says Paul Hodgson of The Corporate Library, a Maine company that reviews executive pay and corporate governance issues for investors. "The amount that (executives) have earned over the years would seem to be enough to provide for their retirement, and the idea that you have to provide retirement benefits worth 50% of their annual compensation is absurd." At the other end of the spectrum, American CEO Gerard Arpey got a standing ovation from employees in Washington on Wednesday as he appeared before Congress, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. Arpey was pushing Congress for legislation he says will help his airline protect its workers' pension plans. Updated 9 a.m. ET