California IN BRIEF : NORTHERN CALIFORNIA : GTE Workers Strike in Quest for Raises
From Times Staff and Wire Reports
More than 3,100 GTE Northwest telephone company workers in Northern California, Washington and Oregon went on strike for higher wages Friday after contract talks broke down, union and company officials said. Members of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers--cable installers, splicers, operators and clerical workers--walked off their jobs shortly after midnight, said Douglas Weisner, business manager for Local 89. They had been working under an extended contract that expired May 26. No new talks are scheduled, said GTE spokeswoman Linda Gainer. The company serves more than 672,000 customers in the three states. Gainer said most customers should only experience minor inconveniences, such as longer waits for operators.
