03:40 PM EDT, 09/04/2024 (MT Newswires) -- (Updates with comment from Boeing ( BA ) in the last paragraph.)

Acting US Labor Secretary Julie Su asked Boeing ( BA ) and its factory workers to reach a fair contract ahead of the Sept. 12 vote on a new deal, Reuters reported Wednesday.

The workers can go on strike as early as Sept. 13 if the contract is rejected and a majority backs work stoppage, according to the report.

The workers' union is seeking job security through guarantees that Boeing's ( BA ) next airplane program will stay in Washington state's Puget Sound area, the report said.

"I would just continue to encourage the parties to bargain, like they're not quite there, and that reaching a fair contract is a good thing," Su was quoted as saying. "It's the way to allow everyone to then march forward together to accomplish the mission of the company in a way that prioritizes the workers."

"We're confident we can reach a deal that balances the needs of our employees and the business realities we face as a company," a Boeing ( BA ) spokesperson told MT Newswires via email.

(Market Chatter news is derived from conversations with market professionals globally. This information is believed to be from reliable sources but may include rumor and speculation. Accuracy is not guaranteed.)

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