Boeing machinists strike talks fall apart

EVERETT, Wash., Oct. 13 (UPI) -- Union machinists at Boeing said late Monday that talks in Seattle aimed at ending their five-week strike had ended with no agreement.

The International Association of Machinists said in a statement on it Web site that a federal mediator decided to adjourn the negotiations amid a standoff over what the union called an effort by the company to "bargain away our members' jobs" in areas such as inventory and materials delivery.

"It has become apparent that the long-term strategy of The Boeing Co. is to eliminate these IAM positions and replace the Union workers with outside suppliers," the statement said.

A Boeing spokesman told the Seattle Times Monday that flexibility was necessary for the company to remain competitive.

Meanwhile, the Times said, union engineers have discussed the possibility of a strike at Boeing's airliner plant in Everett, Wash.

The newspaper said the Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace has been alarmed by the preliminary discussions in which Boeing has proposed wage and benefit cuts.

The union is scheduled to either vote on a new contract or go out on strike in mid-November.