Boeing, Machinists Regroup Next Step Uncertain After Workers Reject Proposed Contract

Boeing and the Machinists union pondered Wednesday what to do after striking workers angrily rejected a contract proposal and voted to extend a 6-week walkout against the commercial jet maker.

Even federal mediator Ben Youtsey said he was a little surprised when defiant riveters, painters, and other blue-collar workers late Tuesday rejected the three-year contract offer that leaders of both sides had approved.

At issue are health-care coverage, subcontracting of work and pay.

The vote continues the second-longest strike in the 79-year history of the world’s largest commercial jet maker.

“I thought with the union (leaders) recommending it, it had a decent chance of flying,” Youtsey said.

Youtsey said he would talk with both sides to try to figure out what went wrong and how to proceed. He said he had not heard from Boeing by midday, but had had discussions with the union.

Robert E. Gregory, the Machinists’ chief negotiator, said he proposed Tuesday night to Milt Grover, Boeing’s vice president of union relations, that bargaining resume immediately.

But Boeing spokesman Paul Binder said Wednesday that the company was still mulling its next move.

“I think at this point we have to assess what alternatives are open to us,” he said. “We don’t have any kind of a time line.”