Federal judge approves McDonnell Douglas settlement

TULSA (AP) -- A 10-year lawsuit over the closing of McDonnell Douglas' Tulsa plant is over.<br/><br/>A federal judge in Tulsa Thursday approved a settlement reached by former workers and the company

Thursday, September 2nd 2004, 12:12 pm

By: News On 6

TULSA (AP) -- A 10-year lawsuit over the closing of McDonnell Douglas' Tulsa plant is over.

A federal judge in Tulsa Thursday approved a settlement reached by former workers and the company earlier this year.

The company will pay more than 1,000 workers $8.1-million in back wages. The workers agreed to settle their claims for pension and health benefits last year for $36-million.

McDonnell Douglas announced in 1993 that it was closing its Tulsa plant. The workers then sued under a federal employee retirement act.

US Chief District Judge Sven Erik Holmes ruled in 2001 that the company violated the law by closing the plant to deprive workers of their benefits. The company stood to save about $25-million.

McDonnell Douglas merged with Boeing in 1997.