Oct 1 (Reuters) - Boeing's ( BA ) largest union urged

new CEO Kelly Ortberg on Tuesday to get more involved in

contract negotiations to end a strike by around 33,000 U.S. West

Coast workers, after the U.S. planemaker cut off their

healthcare benefits.

In August, the former Rockwell Collins boss took over the

reins of Boeing ( BA ), which has been rocked by multiple crises this

year, including the strike that has hit production of Boeing's ( BA )

strongest-selling 737 MAX jets.

"It's time for the new CEO to truly engage at the

proposal-based level and to take the reins from his subordinates

who are fumbling critical decisions like this one," said Brian

Bryant, president of the International Association of Machinists

(IAM) and Aerospace Workers, which represents the striking

workers.

"There is no reason the health benefits question could not

have been punted on to allow more time for negotiations at the

table," Bryant added in a statement.

The Sept. 30 limit for striking workers to access their

Boeing ( BA ) health insurance plans was long known, with the union

urging workers on Monday to find alternatives.

Talks between Boeing ( BA ) and the IAM's District 751, which is

negotiating the deal, broke off last week and it is not clear

when discussions will resume.

"We remain committed to resetting our relationship with our

represented employees and negotiating in good faith, and want to

reach an agreement as soon as possible," Boeing ( BA ) said in a

statement.

Boeing ( BA ) workers in the Seattle area and Portland, Oregon,

walked off the job on Sept. 13 in the union's first strike since

2008, halting production of three commercial airplane models and

adding financial strain to the planemaker.

The union is seeking a 40% pay rise and the restoration of a

defined-benefit pension that was taken away in the contract a

decade ago.

Boeing ( BA ) made an improved offer last week to the striking

workers that it described as its "best and final", which would

give workers a 30% raise over four years and restore a

performance bonus, but the union said a survey of its members

found that was not enough.

(Reporting by Allison Lampert in Montreal and David Shepardson

in Washington; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman)