Machinists union confirms start of Boeing talks

Machinists union confirms start of Boeing talks

Linda Calloway of Renton staffs a picket line late at night outside the delivery center for Boeing Co. in Seattle.

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Story Published: Oct 12, 2008 at 6:28 PM PDT

Story Updated: Nov 21, 2008 at 3:46 AM PDT

By KOMO Staff and Associated Press

SEATTLE - The Machinists union has confirmed that negotiations to end a five-week strike at the Boeing Co. have begun.

A note saying talks with a federal mediator were under way was posted Sunday on the union's Web site. Spokeswoman Connie Kelliher said she did not know where the talks were being conducted.

Boeing and union spokesmen have said the two sides agreed to a media blackout on the negotiations.

A statement on the Machinists Web site said: "We remain cautiously optimistic Boeing will negotiate fairly and address members' issues. In the meantime, we need members to keep the picket lines strong, as the strike continues during these talks."

An agreement to renew contract talks for the first time since the strike began on Sept. 6 were announced Wednesday.

The talks are beginning at a critical time for the company, its subcontractors and for the machinists.

Wall Street analysts say the global financial crisis could lower demand for Boeing planes and cause some airlines to cancel or delay orders.

Meanwhile, some Boeing subcontractors have laid off employees during the strike, and many machinists say they are running out of money as the labor stoppage drags on.

But the machinists union is trying to keep up its members' spirits - staging a rally against Boeing corporate greed on Thursday.

The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers represents about 27,000 hourly production workers, including about 25,000 in and around Seattle. Key issues include job security, pay, retirement benefits and health care.

The strike has lasted 36 days as of Sunday.

The previous machinists' strike in 2005 lasted 28 days. The one before that, in 1995, lasted 69 days. The longest strike for the machinists was back in 1948. It lasted 140 days.

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