WICHITA, Kan. (AP) -- Aircraft maker Hawker Beechcraft and union Machinists have agreed to meet for the first time since a strike began earlier this month.
Machinists struck the company's plants in Wichita and Salina on Aug. 4 when the union's old contract expired. No talks have taken place since then.
Hawker Beechcraft said Wednesday that federal mediators asked the two sides to meet and consider "options concerning the strike and negotiations."
The Machinists' contract covers about 4,700 hourly workers at the Wichita plant and 500 in Salina. Union leaders had strongly urged members to reject the company's proposed new contract.
