Boeing machinists go on strike

Boeing Co. machinists went on strike Saturday after federally mediated contract talks failed.

About 100 members of the International Assn. of Machinists and Aerospace Workers union hoisted their strike signs at 12:01 a.m. outside the Boeing plant in this city north of Seattle. Key strike issues include pay, outsourcing, retirement and health care benefits.

This is the second strike for the machinists union in as many contract negotiations with Boeing. They struck for 24 days in 2005. The walkout affects factories only in Washington, Kansas and Oregon.