May 29 (Reuters) - Boeing ( BA ) and a union

representing about 125 of its firefighters said Wednesday they

had reached a tentative contract deal, the planemaker and union

said in a joint statement.

Boeing ( BA ) in early May locked out members of the International

Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) Local I-66 after they

rejected two contract offers - a move that drew the concern of

President Joe Biden.

Boeing ( BA ) and IAFF Local I-66 said they expected results of a

vote Thursday on the deal "that would end the lockout and months

of negotiations. This tentative agreement addresses the needs of

our firefighters and the company."

If the deal is approved, firefighters are expected to return

to work Saturday.

At a May 14 rally outside Boeing ( BA ) headquarters in Arlington,

Virginia, IAFF President Edward Kelly, AFL-CIO President Liz

Shuler and Representative Val Hoyle urged Boeing ( BA ) to make a deal.

Last week, House lawmakers from Washington State urged both

sides "to negotiate in good faith toward an agreement."

Boeing ( BA ) and the union did not immediately disclose details of

the agreement. Boeing ( BA ) said in early May it had offered to

increase firefighters' average take-home pay from $91,000 to

$112,000 in the first year.

The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace

Workers (IAM) is separately negotiating a new contract on behalf

of over 30,000 workers who build Boeing's ( BA ) 737 MAX jets.

Boeing 737 MAX production has fallen sharply as the Federal

Aviation Administration (FAA) steps up factory checks following

a panel blowout on a new Alaska Airlines 737 MAX 9 in

January, blamed on an assembly error. Boeing ( BA ) is set to meet with

the FAA on Thursday on its 90-day plan to boost quality.