About 2,500 machinists who assemble jetliners in Boeing's factories in Seattle Wednesday voted on the company's contract offer and to decide whether a strike should begin at midnight if it is rejected.
Leaders of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers have recommended that union members reject Boeing's final offer, which was made by the company last week, and asked for the authorization to call a strike.
Union members cast two votes during the process, one on whether to accept or reject the contract, the other on whether to strike. A strike requires that a majority reject the contract and at least two-thirds vote to strike.
It is difficult to predict whether there will be enough votes to avoid a strike -- one third of the vote -- until the results are announced Wednesday night, observers say.
The votes are expected be counted starting at 6 p.m. at the union's headquarters, and the results should be known by about 8:30 p.m., according to a union spokeswoman.
Boeing's contract offer would raise wages by an average of 11 percent over three years and boost the pension multiplier by 14 percent for the workers. But the union insisted to demand a general wage increase of at 13 percent and better pension benefits.
Boeing has said it would not change the offer this time if there is a strike, which would essentially shut down the company's jet-making factories in Seattle and other areas. The union went on strike for a month in 2005 before the company improved its offer to settle the labor dispute.
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