An important part of labor history in the United States has been the strikes of the WV coal miners, especially notorious is the Battle of Blair Mountain. There have been plenty more strikes, even more recent ones. I figured as a tribute to the memory and sacrifice of these men I'd share some stories I personally heard from members of my family who actually were at one point striking coal miners in West Virginia.
As a background, coal mining was brutal and deadly. Any seasoned miners could expect to have black lung, broken bones, joint issues, hearing damage, etc. Everyone had witnessed someone die or be severely injured at least once, as well. When these men went on strike, they didn't give a fuck. They were already putting their lives on the line every time they went to work.
When these men striked:
My grandfather converted his garage into a workshop where he and his friends made improvised road spikes to lay across the parking lots of mines to keep out strikebreakers, replacement workers, law enforcement, etc.
Experienced hunters and military veterans would cover themselves in dirt and leaves and hide in the mountains with their guns and shoot at the vehicles of the people who tried to disrupt their strikes.
They would follow the strikebreakers and replacement workers to the hotels the mine owners put them up in and they'd intimidate them and stay outside the hotels all night.
On one occasion, some of the miners went to the processing plant a few miles away and took it by force and shut it down.