Strike by Tillamook creamery workers ends

An agreement on health care costs has brought an 11-day strike by Tillamook County Creamery Association employees to an end. Members of Teamster Local 58 approved the agreement 150-48 and will return to their jobs.

The Tillamook OR-based dairy cooperative and cheese producer will pay roughly 13% more of health premiums for its 560 employees. The union, which represents about half of Tillamook's employees, consented to smaller salary increases over the three-year life of this new contract. Workers will receive slightly less than 8% in raises by 2008 instead of 9%.

The second-largest cheese producer in the United States, the company distributes cheese and ice cream from the West Coast to the Mississippi River.