McDonnell Douglas, Machinists Union Reach Tentative Accord

Three months after their contract expired, negotiators for the machinists union reached a tentative agreement Wednesday with McDonnell Douglas Corp. on a four-year contract.

“It appears we’re going to recommend the company’s” offer, said Calvin Duncan, president of the International Assn. of Machinists & Aerospace Workers Local 725.

The proposed agreement would provide for a 2.5% general wage increase the first year, a 2% increase the second year and bonus payments of 2.5% and 3% in the following two years. Negotiators also won an increase in pension benefits and managed to derail an attempt by the company to do away with cost-of-living increases, Duncan said.

Keith Takahashi, a spokesman for the company, confirmed that negotiators had reached a tentative accord but said he could not comment on the specifics of the agreement.

The contract involves about 1,900 machinists in Huntington Beach, Torrance, Long Beach, Vandenberg Air Force Base and Cape Canaveral, Fla. Most of the workers are from the Huntington Beach plant, which produces parts for the C-17 military cargo jet.

A meeting of members has been scheduled for 10 a.m. Sunday at Long Beach Memorial Stadium to vote on the agreement, Duncan said.