We have collective agreements with employers across this country, over 4,000 of them. In some of those cases, consultants or contractors are utilized. Generally, they're in places where there may be a unique skill set that's needed for a short period of time, like piledriving—things that members of CUPE wouldn't necessarily have.
Study after study has shown that contracting out definitely costs more. It's not as beneficial for taxpayers. I don't see them in the same vein as scabs, though. Scabs are definitely at a level of their own, and only superseded by employers who will use scabs.
Generally, I would agree with my friend Chris's statements.