Mike is also a career coal miner and a member of the United Mine Workers of America.

"It's going to be our home away from home until we get a contract," one member of the United Mine Workers said.

Striking is nothing new to these 12,600 members of the United Auto Workers.

But some of the 12,600-striking members of the United Automobile Workers, won't be staying for long.

In response, members of the United Automobile Workers voted to give their union permission to call a strike.

Many of the company's employees were members of the United Mine Workers.

An unusual agreement ratified last week by members of the United Auto Workers makes a small attempt to close the gap.

He said the strike, by members of the United Automobile Workers, was not hurting company performance.

About 32,000 members of the United Automobile Workers union are off the job as a result of three strikes, the first starting on April 4.

About 2,100 members of the United Automobile Workers local there rejected a three-year contract offer after negotiators failed to agree on a raise.