Workers at a coal mine near the Crow Reservation in Montana voted to continue their strike.

The 125 workers, who are represented by the International Union of Operating Engineers, walked out of the job at the Absaloka Mine on Saturday. The overwhelming majority of the employees are members of the Crow Tribe.

Westmoreland Coal Co. leases the coal reserves for the mine from the Crow Tribe. According to the Associated Press, the mine generated $16.6 million in royalty and production tax payments for the tribe in 2006.

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Striking miners vote to reject contract offer (The Billings Gazette 6/12)