AEROSPACE

McDonnell Douglas, Union to Meet With Mediator: McDonnell Douglas Corp. executives and machinist union leaders plan to meet with a federal mediator today in a last-ditch effort to avoid a strike by nearly a third of the company’s St. Louis work force. About 6,700 members of the International Assn. of Machinists Lodge 837 are threatening to walk out over concerns about outsourcing and the use of subcontractors and nonunion workers. Union members were preparing to strike at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, after voting to authorize a strike Sunday. Although the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 1 has given strike notice and Teamsters Local 610 has advised workers not to cross picket lines, McDonnell Douglas will not close if a strike occurs, a company spokesman said.