Caterpillar Executives 2012 = Pullman Co. 1894?

Sun. July 29, 2012:

Companies squashing labor union strikes:
Are we living in 2012 or 1894?

                                                     July 1894:  Anti-Pullman Cartoon

Note this past week's hard line from industry leader Caterpillar, Inc.:

"Caterpillar, which has significantly raised its executives’ compensation because of its strong profits, defended its demands, saying many unionized workers were paid well above market rates. To run the factory during the strike, the company is using replacement workers, managers and a few union members who have crossed the picket line."

                                      July 2012: Strikers vs. Catterpillar in Joliet, Illinois


It's one thing to keep your workers' wages low, to "remain competitive."
But given Caterpillar's huge profits, shouldn't its executives keep their own salaries relatively low -- if only as a symbol of support & sympathy for its workers?
Caterpillar's answer would almost certainly be the same as George Pullman's in 1894:
"Salaries have to remain competitive [upward] too, or we could lose some of our executives."


You be the judge.
We live in a conservative Republican era.