(WSBT) October 1st marked the six month anniversary of a strike by musical instrument makers in Elkhart.

On April 1st 230 workers at Conn Selmer's Vincent Bach plant hit the picket lines.

Since then the workers have taken shifts on the line in front of the plant. They remain there seven days a week rain or shine.

Some are beginning to feel the financial strain because of the strike. They are only getting by on union strike pay of $200 a week.

Most say they thought a contract settlement would have been worked out by now and never imagined spending half a year on the picket line.

"We figured, I guess the majority, maybe three months at the most," says Kathy Harris.

"We figured some time maybe in July; that would be the turning point and we would go back," says Larry Kimes. "No, we didn't figure that we would be out here for six months... or longer."

Workers have rejected two separate contract offers from the company since the strike began. Right now Conn-Selmer is reviewing a written contract proposal from the union bargaining committee.