I've worked in a unionized factory for eight years, and the protection is real—but so is the complacency it breeds among some coworkers who coast on seniority while newer hires get laid off first. Our contract's last-in-first-out rule saved my job in 2020, yet it also meant watching a talented 26-year-old lose his position to a guy who barely showed up on time. Should labor unions prioritize seniority over merit when layoffs happen, even if it means keeping less productive workers? I'm genuinely torn because solidarity has a cost, and someone always pays it.