Ok, well maybe not the elderly. But Northwest Airlines recently hired on Vance International, Ltd to do union-security for them in the event of a strike between NWA and AMFA, the aircraft mechanics union.
NWA Scared by Union, Employs Strike-busters against 53 year-olds
You may remember Vance as the company that received about $1 Million from Bush-Cheney '04 to protect their headquarters in VA last year.
They also were employed against the newspaper reporters strike in Detroit in the mid-90's where they used clubs on several reporters.
The funny thing is, as the article lays out, is that the average age of a mechanic at NWA is now 53 years old. Imagine that, at least half the people on the picket line are over 53. After several rounds of layoffs since 9/11, the youngest people there have 15 to 16 years of experience.
Update [2005-8-2 10:40:23 by plad0005]: Ok, I got called on the carpet for bad math, but what I'm saying is there aren't any mechanics younger than 40 at NWA right now.
It's really a tragedy, hopefully no one is hurt. And I mean no disrespect to those of you over 40, but frankly, I'm not as threatened by you physically. :)
Check out this website for the daily AMFA scoop.
AMFA Local 33