Boeing machinists' strike is on after talks fail

Despite a 48-hour contract extension, negotiations between Boeing Co. and Machinists union officials have failed and the union has declared: "The strike is on!"

By MANUEL VALDES

Associated Press Writer

SEATTLE —

Despite a 48-hour contract extension, negotiations between Boeing Co. and Machinists union officials have failed and the union has declared: "The strike is on!"

Picket lines went up early Saturday on the West Coast and in Wichita, Kan.

The Machinists bargain for about 25,000 aircraft assembly workers in the Puget Sound area and about 2,000 more in Wichita and Portland, Ore.

This is the Machinists' second strike in as many contract negotiations with Boeing. They struck for 24 days in 2005.

The company said it would not try to assemble planes during the strike.

Boeing spokesman Tim Healy said the company is open to further discussion, but both sides were too far apart to reach agreement. He added no additional talks were scheduled.

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