[quote=moneymaker]xboxboy would it not be in both sides best interest to not let the contracts lapse in order to avoid a strike?[/quote]
A strike doesn’t occur just because the contract expires. Typically everything continues as if the contract is still in place. (There can be exceptions though.). In most cases it’s understood that the strike is truly the last resort, so it won’t happen until well after the contract is expired and all attempts to negotiate have proved unsuccessful.
