Boeing workers vote to strike; contract extended

Boeing Co. aircraft assembly workers have voted to strike for an unprecedented second time in three years. However, at the request of Gov. Chris Gregoire and a federal mediator, their contract has been extended 48 hours.

SEATTLE —

The vote Wednesday was 87 percent in favor of a strike as unanimously recommended by Machinists union negotiators. Under union rules a strike requires at least two-thirds approval from those voting.

In separate balloting, union members also voted 80 percent to reject Boeing's third and final three-year contract offer, which included pay raises averaging 11 percent.

The walkout had been set to begin at 12:01 a.m. PDT Thursday, after the expiration of a contract covering more than 27,000 workers, including 25,000 in the Puget Sound region. Now that contract has a short extension.

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