I know it's fashionable to beat on union workers as hopeless rubes, totally dependent on Big Daddy Gummint ... particularly fashionable to do so among the supposedly conservative chattering class. Even professional chatterers, though, should occasionally check their prejudices against facts.
Dude, the problem with your theory is that the union goons rallied AT THE COAL COMPANY and NOT THE EPA or some government office. Therefore, they have NOT learned their lesson very well. Case closed.