Douglas to Pay Fired Worker $114,000

A former sheet metal worker agreed Friday to accept $114,000 from McDonnell Douglas Corp. to settle a grievance alleging that he was unfairly fired from the firm’s Long Beach plant because of union activity.

James H. Wade, 43, of Long Beach said he was fired in December, 1986, while performing his duties as a steward for the United Auto Workers Local 148. He said he agreed to accept the offer after Douglas Aircraft Co., a McDonnell Douglas subsidiary, refused his request for a settlement that would allow him to return to his job.

Company spokesman Dave Eastman said “basically, we reached this settlement at his request,” and “we’re happy it’s resolved.”