Workers of the World Unite! Boeing employees to walk......

[marmar]

from Bloomberg:



Boeing's Talks With Machinists Fail; Strike to Start (Update3)

By Susanna Ray

Sept. 5 (Bloomberg) -- Boeing Co.'s extended contract talks with its largest union ended in failure, setting up a walkout at midnight that will halt aircraft production and may further delay the 787 Dreamliner.

``Despite meeting late into the night and throughout the day, continued contract talks with the Boeing company did not address our issues,'' the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers said today on its Web site. The workers rejected the contract two days ago, and leaders agreed to delay the strike until tonight so the two sides could meet with a federal mediator.

The walkout jeopardizes Boeing's customer relations amid unprecedented demand from airlines for newer, more fuel-efficient planes and may keep the 787, Boeing's most successful new plane, from flying this year. A month-long strike would shave 31 cents a share off Boeing's earnings and cost $2.8 billion in lost revenue, estimates New York-based Merrill Lynch & Co. analyst Ronald Epstein.

``The union gamble in this case is significant and immediate,'' said Michel Merluzeau, an aviation consultant at G2 Solutions in Kirkland, Washington. ``Boeing's offer was reasonable, especially considering the current economy and the projected market slowdown.''

The union represents about 27,000 employees in Washington state, Oregon and Kansas who make parts and assemble planes for Chicago-based Boeing, which trails only Airbus SAS in commercial planemaking. Boeing, whose manufacturing hub is in Seattle, will deliver planes that were completed prior to the strike and won't assemble any others during the walkout. ......(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=a5CHqp9RgCKw&refer=home