With Mediator, Boeing and Union to Renew Contract Talks

SEATTLE (AP) — Negotiations to end a 45-day machinists union strike against the Boeing Company will resume on Thursday with a federal mediator in Washington, D.C.þþArthur R. Rosenfeld, director of the United States Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, told both sides that he wanted the parties to reconvene negotiations under the auspices of the conciliation service, according to a statement by the agency statement on Monday.þþThe announcement came one week after two days of bargaining ended in failure. The strike by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers began on Sept. 6.þþ“We hope this meeting marks a major step forward to resolve this strike, Connie Kelliher, a union spokeswoman, said in a statement to union members. “The union will continue to do everything possible to bargain a contract that addresses the concerns our members have identified.”þþA Boeing spokesman, Jim Proulx, confirmed that the talks were resuming and said, “We look forward to working with the federal mediator and the I.A.M.” to end the dispute.þþThe union represents about 25,000 electricians, mechanics, painters, riveters and other hourly production workers in and around Seattle; 1,500 in Gresham, Ore.; and 750 in Wichita, Kan. It is the union’s fourth strike against Boeing in less than two decades, after walkouts of 28 days in 2005, 69 days in 1995 and 48 days in 1989.þþThe thorniest issue has been job security, with pay, retirement benefits and medical care also union priorities.þþ