Striking teachers and public workers in West Virginia built on lessons of union battles in coalfields over decades, winning support of current and retired miners and their families. Above, United Mine Workers members and supporters shut down Pittston coal plant in Virginia during 11-month strike in 1989. Left, coal miners in Bellaire, Ohio, 1943, read article reporting UMWA president John L. Lewis’ defiance of government threat to use troops to replace striking miners during World War II. “You can’t mine coal with bayonets!” miners replied.