A deal of sorts was struck Thursday between Wheatland Tube Co. and United Steelworkers Local 1660 which could pave the way for the end of a strike that has dragged on for more than four months.

Both sides would not publicly release details of the package until it is in union members' hands early next week. However, members of Local 1660, which represents 470 production and maintenance workers at the company's Wheatland pipe and tube plant, will be given a chance to vote on the package Sept. 14.

Local 1660 struck the company on April 28 after the union's contract expired. Before the strike, union members voted that their bargaining committee bring back a contract offer only if it was "the best possible package they could negotiate.''

As it turns out, that proved to be a pivotal phrase. Typically, when an agreement is reached between a company and a union on all the issues, both sides announce a "tentative agreement'' has been struck.

But in this case the company was reluctant to call the package a tentative deal.

030509