Union rejects talks with Turkish Airlines

ISTANBUL, July 6 (Reuters) - A Turkish airline workers' union has rejected an offer by Turkish Airlines (THYAO.IS) for talks aimed at avoiding a strike, the airline said on Friday.

Its shares fell 3.8 percent to 10.20 lira after the news, in a slightly weaker market.

"The Hava-Is union ... did not even feel the need to discuss our new offer, which we sent to them on July 4, 2007, to help improve wages and benefits," the airline said in a statement.

Earlier in the week, Turkish Airlines said it had offered to talk to the union to resolve a contract dispute.

The union had said this week that if it did not reach an agreement it would call a strike six working days after receiving a mediator's report. It was not clear when the report is due.

The flag carrier is Turkey's largest airline and made a net profit of 40.6 million lira ($31.35 million) in the first quarter of this year.

((Reporting by Irem Koker; Writing by Thomas Grove, editing by Rory Channing; Reuters Messaging: thomas.grove.reuters.com@reuters.net; Email: thomas.grove@reuters.com; Telephone: +90 212 350 7051))

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