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Wichita SPEEA workers reject Boeing offer

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The Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace (SPEEA) had recommended workers turn down the proposal so that negotiations could resume.

With nearly 85 percent of the members casting mail-in ballots, the result was 904-319 to reject the contract, SPEEA said. Boeing officials did not have an immediate comment.

The union's recommendation came after a decertification vote last month that narrowly left union representation in place.

About 3,450 union workers at the Wichita facility have been working under an extension since a three-year contract expired Feb. 19.

The contract offer included wage increases of 3.5 percent in the first year and 3 percent in each of the next two years. Employees would have paid significant increases for health coverage.

FDA calls on Corixa to warn of drug's risk

WASHINGTON — Seattle biotech company Corixa overstated the effectiveness of its Bexxar cancer drug in a promotional video and left out information about the treatment's risk, the Food and Drug Administration said in a letter to the company.

Bexxar, used to treat non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, can reduce production of several kinds of blood cells, raising the risk for infections and anemia, the FDA said.

GlaxoSmithKline helps market Bexxar, Corixa's first drug on the market. The treatment had sales of $1.2 million in 2003.

The FDA's letter asks Corixa to find a way to contact the people who saw the video. Corixa officials didn't immediately return a call seeking comment.
 
NeoRx secures isotope needed for drug trial

SEATTLE — NeoRx said yesterday it has signed an agreement with the University of Missouri-Columbia Research Reactor Center to manufacture and supply a radioactive isotope for a NeoRx final-stage clinical trial.

The Seattle company uses holmium-166 to formulate STR, its lead experimental drug for multiple myeloma, a cancer of the blood. It formulates STR at its manufacturing plant in Denton, Texas.

NeoRx said it plans to start enrolling patients in the clinical trial soon.

Boeing's Shrontz headed for hall of fame

Frank Shrontz, Boeing chairman from 1986 to 1996, is on his way into the National Business Hall of Fame. The honor was announced yesterday by Junior Achievement, which will hold an induction ceremony Thursday in Philadelphia.

Shrontz guided the company through the downturn and recovery from the first Gulf War and the launch of the 777. Five other inductees include Herb Kelleher, founder and chairman of Southwest Airlines.

Office vacancy rates still signaling stability

SEATTLE — Office vacancy rates continued to dip in downtown Seattle and the Eastside in the first quarter of 2004, boosting hopes the commercial real-estate market has stabilized.

In downtown Seattle, the amount of empty office space dropped 0.38 percentage point to 15.42 percent, said CB Richard Ellis, which released its first-quarter report yesterday. Average asking rents dropped 48 cents to $25.47 a square foot.

The Eastside vacancy rate fell 0.12 percentage point to 15.26 percent, the fourth-straight quarterly drop. Asking rents rose 6 cents to $22.93.

AT&T Wireless plans merger vote May 19

REDMOND — AT&T Wireless said in a Securities and Exchange Commission filing yesterday that investors will be asked to vote on the proposed $41 billion merger with Cingular Wireless at this year's shareholder meeting.

The meeting will be May 19 at The Bank One Center on the Riverfront in Wilmington, Del.

Stockholders would receive $15 in cash for each share they own.

Compiled from Seattle Times business staff, Bloomberg News and The Associated Press

Copyright © 2004 The Seattle Times Company