Machinists Union, Boeing to Begin Talks

When the International Assn. of Machinists District 751 begins negotiations with Boeing Co. on Tuesday, it will square off against more than just the world’s largest aerospace company.

Because of a shaky economy in a post-Sept. 11 world, machinists are facing a tough battle in securing their two top goals: job security and better pensions.

Both sides said they are optimistic about reaching an agreement before the current contract expires Sept. 1, and avoiding a strike--as occurred in two of their last four contract negotiations.

But a strike remains a possibility, they said, acknowledging that forging a contract that bridges the economic and employment concerns on both sides will be a tough challenge.

The machinists’ biggest concerns in talks this year--boosting job security and securing better pensions--reflect the current state of the union’s membership, whose average age is 47 and whose numbers have declined by more than a quarter because of layoffs since Sept. 11.