CALIFORNIA IN BRIEF : CALIFORNIA : Lettuce Workers OK Pact, End Strike

Lettuce workers represented by the Teamsters at Bud Antle Inc. went back to work in Huron, Santa Maria and Salinas, ending an 18-day strike. Union workers voted nearly 10 to 1 to accept a new three-year contract with Antle that includes an 8-cent hourly pay increase and other benefits. Some 3,000 Teamsters workers struck the Bud Antle lettuce operations in the three areas on Oct. 26 after rejecting the company’s original contract offer. Bud Antle officials refused to comment on the new pact, but union officials said that while it did not increase the previously rejected wage proposal, the new pact did provide for improvement in work hours and other benefits. Union officials said the contract was approved by a 2,240-248 vote.