Boeing workers prepare to strike as deadline nears

By Bill Rigby and Laura Myers

NEW YORK/EVERETT, Washington (Reuters) - Boeing Co's machinists prepared for a strike on Friday as the plane-maker and its largest union tried to hammer out a last-ditch deal on their latest three-year contract.

Union volunteers rolled out 52-gallon oil drums -- known as "burn barrels" -- and readied coffee and soup to keep expected picketers warm at the company's Everett, Washington plant, despite the balmy 65 degree weather.

"Until further notice, plan to be on strike on Saturday at 12:01 a.m. September 6th," said the latest posting on the union's website. "If no adequate offer is presented, your vote already cast for strike authorization stands."

The vast majority of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers' (IAM) 27,000 members voted to reject Boeing's "best and final" offer on Wednesday, but postponed a strike for 48 hours to give negotiators more time.

Boeing and IAM teams, along with federal mediators, are meeting at Walt Disney Co's Coronado Springs resort near Orlando, Florida, where the IAM is set to have its convention, held every four years, from Sunday.

Representatives of both sides declined to comment on the progress of the negotiations.

MICKEY MOUSE

A dozen or so angry workers gathered at the gates of the Everett plant, expecting to strike at midnight. Some waved signs saying "Mickey Mouse contract" and "Hope you are having fun at Disney World".

"I can't believe they would go to Florida, they couldn't do it here in four months," said Joseph Young, a 48-year old insulation installer who has worked at Boeing for 21 years. "We're not at it for the money, we're at it for the medical, which they (Boeing) are freaking crushing."

Boeing has proposed shifting more health care costs onto workers, one of the major sticking points in negotiations.

"Forty-eight hours was not enough time to accomplish anything, except to upset the members," said Brent Sanchez, 46, a 12-year veteran door mechanic. "Part of that time was spent traveling to Florida."

Workers outside the gates said colleagues inside were reporting only about 25 percent attendance by mechanics at the plant. Boeing declined to comment on activity at its factories.

MIDNIGHT DEADLINE

The success of the talks should become clear by midnight Seattle time, which is when the current contract expires for most of Boeing's IAM members, who work at plants around the Puget Sound area.

By that time, Boeing will either make a new offer to the union, or the IAM will activate the strike it put off for two days. There also is a possibility that both sides will agree to another extension to negotiations.