As the United Auto Workers Local 2069's strike at the Volvo Trucks North America Plant moves into its third week, the picket line has attracted the attention and support of unions throughout the region.

Hailing from plants producing paper, ammunition and other goods, cars full of supporters have traveled to Dublin bearing food, encouragement and offers to picket alongside the strikers in a show of solidarity.

David Harrell, president of United Steelworkers Local 8-495, said the union organized a visit to Dublin on Feb. 10 and plans to vote next week on whether to donate money to the strikers.

"Even though they're a different union than us, we still pull together," Harrell said. "We always just pull together to support each other on the picket line -- we could be there one day ourselves and be needing their support."

USW Local 8-495 represents about 800 employees with Alliant Techsystems, the civilian contractor that operates the Radford Army Ammunition Plant.

Randy Hamm, who leads a political action committee with USW Local 8-495, was among the roughly 10 members who joined UAW Local 2069's picket for about an hour Feb. 10.

"We put this together on short notice, but we are going to do it again soon, hopefully with a stronger contingent of people," he said.

Harrell said it's not uncommon for unions to rally together during a strike.

In fact, during the months-long strike at the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. plant in Danville in 2006, Harrell said members of USW Local 8-495 "sent money twice and then sent toys and stuff for Christmas for the families that was out."

Such generosity, Hamm noted, is often spurred by first-hand experience of strike difficulties.

The last time USW Local 8-495 went on strike was in 1986. The strike lasted about three weeks.

"It means a whole lot" to get outside support, Hamm said. "It helps them rally the people and know there's people in the community that care about things that can be unfair in the workplace."

According to a post on its Web site and an e-mail sent to members, the Covington Paperworkers Union Local 675 has also lent its support to UAW Local 2069, sending both money and members to Dublin.

And more is likely on its way.

Jim Leaman, president of the Richmond-based Virginia AFL-CIO, said the group mailed a letter last week to more than 350 local unions and councils "making them aware of the strike and asking them to take up collections and make donations to the strike fund for UAW."

"When a strike occurs ... word spreads pretty quickly," Leaman said. "And the main support, since it's still early, is the moral support for the people on strike and out of work."

At a conference it held in Richmond earlier this month, the Virginia AFL-CIO raised about $1,100 for UAW Local 2069. The organization has also made its own financial contribution of $1,000.

Stephen Crockett, who created Mid-Atlantic States Labor, "an Internet resource for the busy union activist," said he expects support for UAW Local 2069 to extend beyond state lines.

"As soon as I heard about it, I got the word out, and I think some folks from all over the Mid-Atlantic States labor movement are rallying to support them," Crockett said, citing information he has gotten about visits and donations from groups in Maryland and Pennsylvania.

Crockett himself plans to make a trip from Maryland to Dublin in a few weeks.

On a recent visit to the picket line, UAW Local 2069 President Lester Hancock said the union has received significant help and support from local residents, businesses and organizations, many of which have donated coffee, food and other items to the strikers.

Hancock, however, declined to name donors, saying the union planned to release the names at a later time.