About 1,500 Boeing machinists went on strike at 12:01 a.m. today after last-minute talks broke down between their union and the company unit that operates the Delta rocket program. The machinists say Boeing has proposed ending retirement health care coverage for new employees and wants to eliminate caps on out-of-pocket expenses for medical premiums and co-pays. The strike may affect other Boeing satellite launch facilities as well.
See "Boeing Machinists Walk Out After Talks Break Down", Associated Press, Los Angeles Times, November 1, 2005