True, but then a business can't have extra guys earning twice as much as a rampie just to save jobs. It's got to be able to have similar costs to competitors and compete in a free market. It can't do that withits hands tied behind its back.
When Ansett went tits up, the boys went why didn't you tell us this? We would have taken cuts and given you whatever efficiency you needed. Management did, but the unions wouldn't believe them....
Luckily as an engineer your skills are transportable and you're not tied to a seniority system.