TELECOMMUNICATIONS

GTE California Union Members Ratify Contract: The Thousand Oaks-based unit of GTE Corp. of Stamford, Conn., said members of Communications Workers of America ratified a three-year contract that includes a 9% wage increase over three years. The 9,000 hourly workers also will see their yearly incentive plan bonus raised to 3% in 1997 and ’98 from 2.5% this year. Last month, the company reached a preliminary agreement with the union after nearly 26 weeks of negotiations. GTE hadn’t originally planned for a wage increase, CWA spokeswoman Candice Johnson said. The CWA members at GTE California, which include operators, technicians and sales representatives, had worked without a contract since March 17.