Wheatland Tube Co. reported that the workers at its Wheatland pipe and tube plant are back on the job.

"Our 440 hourly employees are working,'' said William Kerins, vice president of Wheatland Tube.

On Sept. 28 United Steelworkers Local 1660 ended a five-month strike when its members voted to ratify a new three-year labor contract. After the ratification vote more than 100 workers were laid off due to a poor business climate.

The company was able to call back laid off workers due in part partly because the company has to rebuild furnaces at two of its plants, Kerins said.

"As a result, we have to balance inventories to service our customers during the furnace rebuilds,'' he said.

But, another reason was a slight improvement in business.