SEATTLE (AP) -- The Boeing Co. says an initial contract offer for engineers and technical workers will be presented Thursday.
Negotiators for Boeing and the Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace have been meeting for a week. The union represents about 21,000 workers, mostly in the Seattle area and others in Oregon, Kansas, Utah and California.
Both sides say they hope to conclude the talks by next Tuesday. SPEEA (SPEE'-uh) members would then vote by mail. The union's two contracts expire on Dec. 1.
In a message to all Boeing employees Wednesday, Boeing Chief Executive W. James McNerney Jr. wrote that he was optimistic about avoiding a second strike. An eight-week walkout by the Machinists union ended Sunday.
