Following a day of shouting, taunting, swearing, threats, spitting and some attempts at obstructing trucks leaving Wheatland Tube, striking workers and plant management came to a consent agreement before Mercer County Common Pleas Judge Michael J. Wherry that will put a severe crimp on any similar activities in the future.

That agreement, reached Thursday after several hours of testimony in Wherry's courtroom, limits the number of pickets United Steelworkers Local 1660 can have on the line, as well as where those pickets can be.

As many as 100 strikers were out Wednesday when the tension on the line reached a crescendo after company officials fired up the furnace and began shipping pipe. Based on Thursday's agreement, which will be enforced by the Mercer County Sheriff's and Southwest Mercer County Regional Police departments, the union will be limited to 27 pickets at any one time.

030509