Contract Signing Delayed Winery, Ufw In Agreement, But Language Needs Refinement

United Farm Workers of America officials say agreement has been reached on their contract with Stimson Lane Vineyards and Estates, but the contract wasn’t signed Tuesday as expected.

Mark Jennings, spokesman for Stimson Lane’s Chateau Ste. Michelle winery, said the union still had some issues with contract language that needed to be settled before it could be signed.

“All the i’s weren’t dotted and the t’s weren’t crossed yet and that needs to occur before both sides are going to sign it,” Jennings said. “We think it’s a fair agreement, and we’re certainly pleased the negotiations are behind us.”

UFW regional director Rosalinda Guillen said the union didn’t realize until Tuesday morning it would be unable to sign the contract as planned.

“The contract is basically done but there’s some language that we feel needs to be redone,” Guillen said. “Sometimes a word can make a lot of difference in a collective bargaining agreement.”

She said the contract could be signed as early as today.

It is the UFW’s first collective bargaining agreement outside of California.

“It’s an excellent contract,” Guillen said.

The new pact will cover Stimson Lane’s full-time and temporary farm laborers who work the vineyards for Chateau Ste. Michelle and Columbia Crest wineries in south-central Washington.

The contract, which runs until May 31, 1997, calls for a 5.1 percent to 6.5 percent wage increase, dental coverage and a pension plan for full-time workers. Temporary workers will qualify for benefits after 800 hours of work.

Employees will continue to receive a company-paid medical plan, 11 paid holidays, up to five weeks of vacation and seniority recognition.

“The dental and pension plans are new but we already had the other benefits in place,” Jennings said.

The company retained the right to buy grapes from non-union vineyards and won contract language prohibiting the union from boycotting Stimson Lane as part of a dispute with another grower.

Workers voted in June to join UFW, and on Oct. 22 to ratify the contract.

The contract ends a bitter 8-year battle between the union and Stimson Lane. The fight included union picketing of the winery’s Woodinville headquarters and a nationwide boycott of Chateau Ste. Michelle wines.