This led to the protracted and increasingly bitter 1984-1985 miner's strike.
But in a sense a protracted strike would make the sale of Eastern easier.
But the two sides are dug in, and there are fears of a protracted strike.
There was a protracted strike at the colliery in 1834.
A protracted strike in 1914-15 failed to unionize the factory's workforce.
Pilots at Comair are in a protracted strike that may kill the regional airline.
There was also a protracted and violent strike by 700 miners at the Emperor gold mine, the country's largest gold producer.
Workers at three of the companies had a protracted strike in Queens over the summer, which instigated the talks.
Analysts said that while a protracted strike would squeeze earnings in the fourth quarter, the main effect would be to postpone a few deliveries.
City Opera, devastated by dwindling support and a protracted strike in 1995, closes its doors.