I can't speak with certainty for airplane mechanics, but I worked at an auto shop for a while after college, and I can assure you that car mechanics must supply their own tools (and tool chests). While the employer doesn't subsidize tool/chest purchases, these purchases are tax deductible as employment expenses that aren't covered by the employer...the tax deduction typically doesn't come close to making up the cost, though.

Most construction workers I've observed have their own tools, and even cable/satelitte TV installers have to do this...when I moved to RNO, I was living in a brick house and couldn't get my satelitte installed at my first appointment because the intaller didn't have a masonry bit! When I called to complain, the company said the installers were responsible for providing all their own equipment.

With regard to the reports of vandalism, it might be best to wait and see if these things realy hapened...I'm not saying they didn't happen, and if they did, it's despicable. There certainly are cases where vandalism has been committed as part of a labor disputeHowever, but I've seen some cases where reports of widespread vandalism that come out in the first hours/days turn out to http://flyertalk.com/forum/newreply.php#be false.