Talks Collapse, GE Workers Strike

Employees at General Electric’s aircraft engine plant walked off the job Friday to protest a breakdown in relations with management.

The strike by 3,500 GE employees was staged at 8 a.m. following a unanimous vote by union stewards, said Kevin Mahar, president of Local 201 of the International Union of Electrical Workers.

The strike vote was called after negotiations with management collapsed Thursday.

Mahar said the 3,500 strikers, out of a local membership of 9,000, build jet engines for the F-18 fighter, the Blackhawk helicopter and other military aircraft.