I can only answer for myself.Wow after reading all this: I never realized how much the american blue collar workers hated by the populace.
Hated? No. When you are already well paid it is hard to have sympathy. When you are well payed and willing to see others suffer to get more, you loose my respect all together.
There is a difference between not respecting east coast longshoremen and 'hating' them. There is a much bigger difference between not respecting east coast longshoremen and lumping all blue collar works into the same ilk. One demonstrated in mass what they value and were America stands in relation to their personal gain. The cost of working in critical professions is you will get judged harder for standing back to make a point. In mine, I could face loss of license, jail time, and civil action if I decide to stop showing up for work without good cause, so the longshoremen are still getting off easy.
Personally, I chewed it over before coming to my conclusion. Having worked for a company with piss poor upper management, my instinct is to side with those lower down.