11.   The walkout came as a surprise to Union Pacific officials who had talks scheduled with the union for Tuesday and Wednesday, Bromley said.

12.   The walkout came hours after U.S. mediator Dennis Ross announced that he was returning to Washington.

13.   The walkout comes at a time when a recall by competing tiremaker Firestone has put pressure on Goodyear to increase production.

14.   The walkout comes in the dead of winter in countries heavily reliant on coal.

15.   The walkout came after suspected Israeli agents in a car chased four of the men from the Hawks, the armed wing of the mainstream PLO group Fatah.