Winery, United Farm Workers Reach Deal On Union Vote

The United Farm Workers of America and Chateau Ste. Michelle winery signed an agreement Wednesday to settle their eight-year labor dispute.

The agreement calls for a secret-ballot election to be held on or by June 30 and, if employees approve the union, for contract negotiations to begin immediately afterwards. Any issues left unresolved after 75 days of negotiations can be settled by binding arbitration.

If the union loses the election, it will stop all organizing and boycott activities for a year.

“I would think by this harvest season we’ll have a contract,” said union President Arturo Rodriguez.