Wash. farmworkers go back on strike over wages

SEATTLE (AP) -- More than 200 farmworkers at prominent Washington berry farm have gone back on strike.

The walk out marks the second time in as many weeks farmworkers at Sakuma Brothers farms in Skagit County have stopped working during harvest season.

This time farmworkers say farm management is retaliating over the six-day strike last week by lowering pay for workers and increasing wages for another group.

Sakuma management had met with a group representing the workers and come to some agreements last week, including reinstating a worker fired and wages for certain fields.

But other demands have not been negotiated.

At least one demand can't be met under state law. Workers are asking for overtime pay, but most farmworkers are exempt from overtime in Washington.