Boeing Says Contract Talks Are at Impasse

Boeing Co. told its striking engineers union that contract talks are at an impasse, bringing the aerospace giant one step closer to attempting to impose contract terms on 18,000 workers. The Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace released a facsimile letter from Boeing’s chief negotiator, Geoff Stamper, citing the union’s refusal to submit Boeing’s final proposal to members for a vote. “We believe the parties are deadlocked and that we have irreconcilable differences,” Boeing labor spokesman Peter Conte said. He declined to say what Boeing’s next move might be. The society said it would appeal any move to impose terms on the employees it represents, on the picket line since Feb. 9, with the National Labor Relations Board. Shares of Seattle-based Boeing fell 63 cents to close at $36.31 on the NYSE.