Boeing machinists vote to accept labor contract, ending 7-week strike

Boeing's 33,000 unionized machinists on Wednesday voted to approve the plane manufacturer's latest contract offer, ending a seven-week strike that had halted production of most of the company's passenger planes.

The union said 59% voted to accept the contract. Members have the option of returning to work as soon as Wednesday, but must be back at work by Tuesday, November 12, the union said in a statement.

Union leaders had strongly urged members to ratify the latest proposal, which would boost wages by 38% over the four-year life of the contract, up from a proposed increase of 35% that members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) had rejected last month.