Oct 4 (Reuters) - Boeing's ( BA ) largest union said on

Friday that contract talks will resume on Oct. 7, as both sides

seek an agreement that would put an end to a strike by around

33,000 of the planemaker's U.S. West Coast factory workers.

Negotiators for the U.S. planemaker and its largest union

have struggled to find common ground, recently failing to clinch

an agreement on key issues in the presence of federal mediators.

Reaching a deal with the International Association of

Machinists and Aerospace Workers that would end the stoppage is

a priority for Boeing ( BA ), as it wrestles with mounting debt,

worsening cash burn and the threat of losing its investment

grade rating.

The IAM's district 751, which is negotiating the deal, said

in a post on X that it would resume talks with Boeing ( BA ) on Monday

with assistance from federal mediators.

"This meeting is another critical opportunity to push for

the priorities of our membership," the union said.

Boeing ( BA ) confirmed that negotiations would resume Oct. 7. The

talks have attracted attention from U.S. President Joe Biden's

administration, with acting U.S. Labor Secretary Julie Su and

her staff continuing to engage with both parties, a spokesperson

said.

The strike has halted production of Boeing's ( BA ) 777, 767 and

its best-selling 737 MAX jet. The MAX is a key revenue-driver

for the company at a time when it is struggling with weak

margins in its defense business.

The strike, Boeing's ( BA ) first since 2008, is the latest event

in a tumultuous year for the company that began with a January

incident in which a door panel detached from a new 737 MAX jet

during a flight.

Boeing ( BA ) recently made a "best and final" pay offer featuring

the reinstatement of a performance bonus, improved retirement

benefits and doubling of its ratification bonus to $6,000, but

union leadership declined to put it to a vote.

An earlier tentative deal between Boeing ( BA ) and the union that

offered a 25% raise over four years and a commitment that a new

plane would be manufactured in the Seattle area if it were

launched during the four-year agreement was voted down by more

than 90% of workers in September.

Boeing ( BA ) shares were up 2.1% in afternoon trading on Friday.