Daily Update - Local Lodge 2766

19 Jan 2006

Boeing eyes talks, but union is wary

With some 1,500 of its machinists on strike for more than 10 weeks,Boeing Co. officials said Tuesday that they have been asked by federal mediators to meet again with union officials.

A spokesman for the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers said the union is wary and wants mediators to confirm that Boeing plans to negotiate in good faith, after an unsuccessful meeting between the two sides last week in Seattle.

Bob Wood, a machinists union spokesman, said last week's meeting - in which Boeing indicated it would not change the value of its contract offer - was aimed at discouraging picketing workers.

"We want to ensure the request is in good faith and not another ruse to discourage our members on strike," Wood said.

Read the article here.