Just trying remember 15+ years ago to when I worked a crappy retail job, but was heavily unionized and had way better benefits than I've ever had in the airline world, and paid well enough so I could afford college/flight training. Your statement is correct. Of course, it depended on the individuals efficiency.

Some were very efficient, didn't matter which station they worked on. At the end of the day and the report average was run, it could be in the $2000-2000/hr range intake with 27-30 items a minute scanned.

The inefficient down around the $1200-1400/hr with 20-22 items a minute scanned.

Like I said, that was an average report run, and those dollar figures are for early to mid 90's.

Imagine if that pay was based purely on efficiency?