Back to the original post, it seems like you guys are scared of one of the newbs grabbin' a job and running with it, thereby reducing the list of contractors calling you to work. Well that's just real tough and sorry if you don't deal with reality very well. Whether they get what you think should be your job based on skills, merit or butt kissing it is irrelevent and just the way things work.
Construction is cyclical, always has been and always will be, so not everyone is always going to have a job. Save for it, deal with it and prepare for it. There aren't any rules or guidlines related to who gets to keep working through tough times, so it basically comes down to your skills, ethics, attitude and who you've established relationships with in the past. Nobody has to tell or brag about how good they are, most of the time everyone knows before you get there.
Maybe it's time the pipeliners increase their pipe welding skill sets as there are still alot of 100k a year plant pipe welding jobs available and not enough welders to fill them.
I feel like everyone deserves the chance and their own actions will determine whether they make it in the business or not. The contractors that hire out to people doing substandard work will also have to live with their decisions.