31.   In February, they voted to authorize a strike.

32.   Karen Ginoza, president of the HSTA, said the union members who voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike are at the end of their rope.

33.   Members of two unions representing film and television actors authorized a strike if negotiations for a new commercial contract with advertisers break down.

34.   Members of both unions voted last month to authorize a strike, but have continued working under a contract extension.

35.   Members of the writers guild also could vote in the days ahead to authorize a strike, which would put even more pressure on negotiators to reach a settlement.

36.   Shrugging off a warning from the airline, United Airlines flight attendants have voted overwhelmingly to authorize periodic strikes if its proposed acquisition of US Airways goes through.

37.   So far, dockworkers on the islands of Kauai, Maui and Hawaii have authorized a strike.

38.   That came two weeks after rejecting the initial proposal and authorizing a strike.

39.   The settlement, which must be ratified in June, came three days after the last contract expired, but the guild never came close to authorizing a strike.

40.   The U.N. Security Council remains divided on whether to authorize military strikes as favored by the United States and Britain.