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IAM union will send approved offer to Boeing Defense

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Boeing ( BA ) management refused to consider union-proposed

contract

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Union seeks larger bonus, retirement contributions, wage

hikes

By Dan Catchpole

Sept 19 (Reuters) - Striking workers at Boeing Defense

approved a four-year contract proposal from union leadership

that management has already refused to consider, the

International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers

(IAM) announced Friday.

On Wednesday, Boeing Defense leadership dismissed the

offer, which was unilaterally proposed after talks stopped, as a

"publicity stunt." The company has said it would hire

replacement workers to assemble munitions, fighters and other

military aircraft in the St. Louis area.

The IAM's proposed offer builds on earlier proposals from

Boeing Defense, adding a larger ratification bonus than

management offered, heftier company contributions to the

retirement plan and steeper wage increases for workers at the

hourly wage ceiling.

Union officials said they drafted the proposal because the

company has not been willing to resume talks since the roughly

3,200 members of IAM District 837 voted 57% to reject Boeing's ( BA )

last offer on September 12.