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Striking Boeing union presses CEO to 'truly engage' after employees' health coverage cut

Boeing's largest union on Tuesday advised brand-new CEO Kelly Ortberg to get more involved in contract negotiations to end a strike by around 33,000 U.S. West Coast employees, after the U.S. planemaker cut off their healthcare advantages.

In August, the previous Rockwell Collins manager took over the reins of Boeing, which has been rocked by multiple crises this year, including the strike that has hit production of Boeing's. strongest-selling 737 MAX jets. Boeing was not instantly. available for comment.

It's time for the new CEO to truly engage at the. proposal-based level and to take the reins from his subordinates. who are fumbling crucial choices like this one, said Brian. Bryant, president of the International Association of Machinists. and Aerospace Workers, which represents the striking workers.

There is no reason the health advantages question might not. have actually been punted on to enable more time for negotiations at the. table, Bryant added in a statement about the benefits which. ended on Tuesday.

Talks between Boeing and the IAM's District 751, which is. working out the deal, broke off recently and it is unclear. when discussions will resume.

Boeing employees in the Seattle location and Portland,. Oregon, strolled off the job on Sept. 13 in the union's first. strike because 2008, halting production of three business. aircraft designs and including financial stress to the planemaker.

The union is looking for a 40% pay increase and the restoration. of a defined-benefit pension that was taken away in the agreement. a decade ago.

Boeing last week made an enhanced deal to the striking. workers that it referred to as its best and last, which would. provide workers a 30% raise over 4 years and bring back a. performance reward, but the union said a survey of its members. found that was insufficient.

(source: Reuters)