Speaking of UAW agreements:

[Omaha Steve]

I've been telling you about the UAW Local 997 strike at Thombert in Newton that has been going for 82 days. Last month, a deal was struck, and workers voted to ratify it Oct. 21.

Details weren't immediately available, but Steve Wertz, president of the local, told me when the strike began that the major sticking points were wages not keeping pace with inflation, lack of vacation time for less senior members, and proposed changes to workers' health insurance.