The State : ‘No’ Vote Seen on Phone Pact

Although the votes of 42,000 workers to ratify a new contract with Pacific Bell will not be formally counted until Sept. 22, officials of union locals in Sacramento, Ventura and Santa Rosa say their members will reject the contract. A total of 46 locals of the Communications Workers of America this week are casting ballots on a tentative settlement reached last month after a two-week strike by the CWA. Leaders of many California locals have criticized the new pact, saying it gives the company more power to transfer, downgrade and lay off workers and reduces health benefits. If the contract is rejected, the union would immediately call another strike, although the date could be set far enough in the future to allow a new round of negotiations to take place.