He finally reached a contract agreement on October 7, 2009, having missed the first four games of the regular season.

Early in the fall, both the city and the union expressed optimism about reaching a contract agreement.

Further details of the contract agreement were not available.

"If I'd done that, there would not have been a contract agreement," he said.

But a contract agreement was reached on Jan. 11, when more than half the regular season appeared to have been lost.

With this week's labor agreement, the city has brought about two-thirds of its work force under contract agreements.

Q. Since there wasn't a new contract agreement, was the old one extended?

Frank Thomas also said he hoped to reach a contract agreement by the weekend.

But what happens if you pick one and can't reach a contract agreement with him?

A new contract agreement was reached, and workers returned to their jobs Feb. 2.