Part of me feels for the families that will be hit hard by this but this has been a long time coming.  I've worked along side union employees for years on the slope with the same certifications/licenses and equal or more time in the field and I have never been impressed with their lax approach to completing a project that I could complete in half the time with the same results.  I've been forced out of projects many times because I didn't bow down to pressure to join their club or "slow my roll" so as to not outperform.  At least they have more representation that can possibly help them find work.