Personally I didn't read it as having to do with hatred of unions, more just a reminder of political incentives. It's very much in a union's best interest to divert blame from the engineers it represents onto the companies "cost-cutting culture".
It could very well be the truth that the cost-cutting culture is to blame. But it's always worth noting incentives of parties in cases like this.
It could very well be the truth that the cost-cutting culture is to blame. But it's always worth noting incentives of parties in cases like this.