International Association Of Machinists And Aerospace Workers

Boeing Co. production workers on Tuesday rejected the company's latest contract offer over the advice of union leaders, extending a 47-day strike against the world's largest commercial jet manufacturer. Members of the International Assn. of Machinists and Aerospace Workers voted by 60.9% to reject a three-year contract negotiated last weekend with the help of a federal mediator, union leaders said. "We still have a labor dispute going on," said local President Bill Johnson.

Boeing Co. negotiators and leaders of its striking machinists union reached a tentative agreement on a new three-year labor contract. The agreement, which must be approved by the 32,500 union members, comes after two days of intense bargaining to end a 45-day walkout that threatened to cripple the world's largest aircraft maker. Leaders of the International Assn.

The historic agreement to merge the auto workers, steelworkers and machinists unions has its roots in a little-noticed organizing battle at USAir last year. The International Assn. of Machinists & Aerospace Workers was pitted against the United Steelworkers of America and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters to represent fleet service and ground employees. The machinists union won.

After months of acrimonious negotiations, Lockheed Corp. workers at plants in Palmdale and Burbank have ratified a three-year labor contract. The contract, which calls for a reduction in cost-of-living pay increases, was approved Sunday by 73% of the 1,200 machinists at Lockheed's Advanced Development Co. at the two facilities. The division, often called the "Skunk Works," is well known for its innovative technology and development of specialized aircraft such as the F-117A stealth fighter.

Leaders of two of Northwest Airlines' largest unions agreed Monday on a proposed contract that would include pay cuts. In exchange for concessions from the machinists' and flight attendants' unions, the company would give them a greater voice in operations and take financial steps to improve the airline's long-term outlook. Full details of the proposed pact were not immediately released. A ratification vote on the agreement is not expected to be completed until May 17. The International Assn.