What were they supposed to do? Quit? People should try using the Moccasin Lifestyle Plan around here: "Before I judge a man, let me first walk a mile in his moccasins."
Unless you are a former union member who bucked the system...and won...I don't want to hear the gloating and whining.
Do you think a system that awards a job opening to the lesser skilled worker, based primarily upon seniority, then race and sex, provides the best workers, or motivates lower seniority workers?