Major union approves contracts with Boeing successor

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) Two more big groups of former Wichita Boeing workers approve contracts with new owner <b><a class="headlinelink" href="http://www.kotv.com/main/home/searchKOTV.asp?mainSearch=Onex">Onex</a></b>

Tuesday, July 12th 2005, 6:17 am

By: News On 6

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) Two more big groups of former Wichita Boeing workers approve contracts with new owner Onex Corporation.

Results of the voting were announced Monday night by the Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace. The union represents about 600 engineers and a separate group of about 1,800 technicians and professional workers.

Union leaders say engineers voted 128-to-24 in favor of a four-year contract that includes a 13.5 percent pay raise. Professional and technical workers approved a six-year contract that includes a slightly larger raise over five years.

Members of both groups will also see their costs for health insurance rise.

Union Machinists approved a contract earlier. Machinists are the biggest labor group at the former Boeing plant, which is now run by an Onex division called Mid-Western Aircraft Systems.

Operations in Tulsa and McAlester, Oklahoma, also are now run by Onex.