Boeing given 48-hour ultimatum

Boeing Co's largest union rejected a three-year contract offer on Wednesday and voted to strike. Union leaders were shouted off the stage after they agreed to give Boeing 48 hours to come back with a better proposal before starting the walkout.

Eighty percent of the voters opposed the contract and 87 percent supported a walkout, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers said last night in Seattle. Leaders Mark Blondin and Tom Wroblewski left the room after the workers, many already holding 'Strike' signs, objected to the delay.

The union represents about 27,000 employees in Washington state, Oregon and Kansas who make parts and assemble planes for Boeing which trails only Toulouse, France-based Airbus SAS in commercial planemaking.