Especially in a time of economic turmoil, management will try anything to cut costs by downloading their financial woes onto the workers. Going after the most senior could be “sold” as a retirement incentive as well.

Unions will need to file appropriate grievances in every circumstance when these “lay offs” occur. Perhaps by inundating with new grievances for every instance, i.e. for each day they allow junior staff to get hours, they’ll get the message.

Another way to show support for our fellow workers is to reach out to our Union officials to let them know what’s happening and to tell them something needs to be done. It’s great that a few of us get up on our soapboxes and rant about these things, but when we come out in numbers, they know it’s more than just a handful of people asking for action.

I agree with everything you wrote, but what do we do about it realistically?