Labs could be replaced with on the job apprenticeships. Combining online book knowledge with on-the-job training. A corporation could set this up easily and have more control of the instruction quality.
Your suggestion might be typical of innovative solutions to the problem that will come about through private enterprise.
Places where wisdom prevails have developed colleges where the industry desired training is provided in Labs along with classes in math and English and writing
Your thoughts are totally outmoded. Unions are no more