Thousands of Boeing Co. engineering and technical employees walked off the job Wednesday despite attempts by the nation's top federal mediator to prevent a strike at the nation's largest aircraft manufacurer. Federal mediation efforts Monday and Tuesday failed to resolve differences over pay and bonuses between the company and the Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace. Most of the workers are in the Puget Sound area near Seattle, although some are in Wichita, Kan. "Obviously we are disappointed that we were unable to reach an acceptable solution through the course of mediation in the past two days," Boeing spokesman Peter Conte said. "Boeing is a company that strives to work with unions to negotiate in good faith, and to be fair and reasonable in the offers it makes." No further talks have been scheduled. The Boeing Company announced today it had reached a settlement agreement with the Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace (SPEEA), which, if ratified, could end the strike that is now in its 38th day. The mediated settlement talks took place over two days in Washington, D.C. and were overseen by C. Richard Barnes, director of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service.

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