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Boeing Union to Strike at Midnight

Workers, company fail to reach deal after 2 extra days of negotiations

By Harry Kimball, Newser Staff

Posted Sep 5, 2008 7:50 PM CDT

(Newser) – Boeing’s biggest union opted today to strike at midnight after failing to reach a last-minute contract deal, the Wall Street Journal reports. Nearly 27,000 Seattle-area machinists and aerospace workers will walk off the job over health, job security, and pay raise issues in Boeing's latest offer. The union voted to strike earlier this week but held off for 2 days of talks at a federal mediator's request.

The strike will likely cost Boeing $100 million a day and further delay the overdue 787 Dreamliner. It will also affect suppliers worldwide, but some may use delays to build up inventory after a busy few months in the jet-making business. Boeing has not scheduled new talks; union president Tom Wroblewski told the Seattle Post-Intelligencer: "If this company wants to talk, they have my number, they can reach me on the picket line."

[Images (4)]

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Boeing workers, including Paul Burton, lower center, rally in favor of a strike against the Boeing Co. Wednesday. (AP Photo)

A Boeing worker expresses her displeasure with Machinists union negotiator Mark Blondin. (AP Photo)

A Boeing plant. (AP Photo)

Boeing worker Paul Burton holds a picket sign as he yells during a rally Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2008, at a rally in Seattle. (AP Photo)

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Over the past two days, Boeing, the union and the federal mediator worked hard in pursuing good-faith explorations of options that could lead to an agreement. Unfortunately the differences were too great to close. - Scott Carson, Boeing President

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Boeing Union to Strike at Midnight