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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
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Posted Sep 5, 08 7:50 PM CDT
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(Newser)
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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."