Boeing union will keep working, for now SEATTLE (AP) =97 Boeing Co.'s largest union said Thursday its members will= =20 continue working when their contract expires this weekend, averting a=20 walkout despite Boeing's refusal to reopen negotiations. In response to a= =20 request by federal mediators, the machinists union said workers would=20 report to their jobs after the contract expires Sunday at midnight. Boeing= =20 said the company has already made its "best and final" offer and employees= =20 are welcome to return to work under the terms of the existing contract. Union members in Washington state, Portland, Ore., and Wichita, were voting= =20 Thursday on whether to authorize a strike. The union said it would not=20 count the ballots for now, pending further instructions from its=20 international headquarters. The union still considers a strike an option, said Dick Schneider, the=20 machinists' chief negotiator. The Federal Mediation and Conciliation=20 Service on Thursday asked negotiators to meet at its headquarters in=20 Washington, D.C., next Wednesday. Director Peter Hurtgen also asked the two sides to voluntarily extend the=20 contract and continue talks. The union agreed, but Boeing refused to=20 continue negotiations. "The Boeing negotiating team has done everything=20 possible and within reason to craft an offer that is fair, competitive and= =20 respectful," the company said. Union members casting votes said they were= =20 confused about what to do once the contract expires. "It's like they're=20 saying, we want to force you to strike," said Sandra Nichols, a janitorial= =20 worker for 14 years. Boeing made its latest contract offer Tuesday for its= =20 25,000 machinists. Machinists had been seeking to more than double pensions and to secure job= =20 guarantees linked to aircraft deliveries, revenues or other business=20 benchmarks. Boeing would have raised pensions by 20% by the third year of=20 the contract and included no substantial changes to its job security=20 contract language, inciting union leaders whose membership has been slashed= =20 by 25% since Sept 11. The contract also called for changes in employee=20 health care costs, including increases in monthly premiums. In addition, Boeing offered an 8% ratification bonus for accepting the=20 contract, and raises of 2% and 2.5% in the second and third years of the=20 contract. The owner of Roger's Trinbago Site: Roj (Roger James) *************************************************** escape email mailto:ejames@escape.ca Trinbago site: http://www.tntisland.com CBC Website http://www.tntisland.com/caribbeanbrassconnection/ The Trinbago Site of the Week: (MBH) http://maracasbay.com/ (Maracas Bay Hotel) courtesy of Roj Trinbago Website & TnT Web Directory Roj's Trinbago Website: http://www.tntisland.com TnT Web Directory: http://search.co.tt *********************************************************