Acting US Labor Secretary Intervenes in Boeing Strike

BOEING - SEATTLE. U.S. Acting Labor Secretary Julie Su flew to Seattle on Monday to try to ease a Boeing machinists strike, as thousands of employees face layoffs and a major airline reacted with alarm to the planemaker's deepening turmoil. Su's first in-person intervention, reported by Reuters and confirmed by the Labor Department, comes days after Boeing - dealing with a crippling strike now in its fifth week - unveiled plans to cut 17,000 jobs and take $5 billion in charges, continuing a year of tumult for the company.

"Acting Secretary Su is meeting with both parties today to assess the situation and encourage both parties to move forward in the bargaining process," a spokesperson said.