Teamsters, Fruit Grower Settle

A settlement has been reached between the Teamsters union and Stemilt Growers Inc. of Wenatchee over several unfair labor practice complaints brought against the large fruit warehouse.

Since November, Stemilt has been defending itself in a trial against charges that it violated workers’ rights to organize before a union election vote in 1998.

Under the settlement reached last week, both parties agreed to a new union organizing campaign that will begin June 15.

If the union can get a majority of workers to sign union authorization cards within three months, the Teamsters win and the company must begin contract negotiations with the union.

If the Teamsters lose, the union must wait a year before it seeks another unionization election.

Both sides said they were happy with the settlement.