Long Beach Boeing workers approve new three-year contract

<br>(Long Beach, California-AP) -- A three-year contract covering nearly three-thousand workers at Boeing's Long Beach, California, plant has been narrowly approved by union members. <br><br>The pact

Monday, May 3rd 2004, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(Long Beach, California-AP) -- A three-year contract covering nearly three-thousand workers at Boeing's Long Beach, California, plant has been narrowly approved by union members.

The pact approved yesterday provides a three percent wage increase in the first and third years and a lump sum payment of two-thousand dollars in the second year.

The leadership of Local 148 of the United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America recommended that the members reject the contract -- noting that it would increase their out-of-pocket healthcare costs.

The agreement covers more than 28-hundred production workers who build 717 passenger jets and C-17 military cargo at Boeing's Long Beach plant.

Boeing spokesman Rick Sanford says the contract is good for the company's employees.