Spirit AeroSystems to halt work at Wichita plant as union votes to strike

Spirit AeroSystems will suspend factory production on Thursday at its plant in Wichita, Kansas, the company said, after workers rejected a proposed four-year deal and announced a strike to begin on June 24. Spirit is one of the most consequential suppliers for aerospace heavyweights Boeing and Airbus. The Wichita site makes the entire fuselage for Boeing's bestselling 737 MAX narrowbody jet and the forward sections for most of its other aircraft, as well as pylons for the Airbus A220. A prolonged work stoppage at Spirit could have ripple effects for the aircraft makers it supplies, eventually forcing them to slow or stop jetliner assembly at a time when both Airbus and Boeing are ramping up production. "It's not a welcome development," said Richard Aboulafia, an aerospace analyst with AeroDynamic Advisories. "I think the general feeling is that (Spirit) had it under control with what appeared to be a reasonable agreement," he said. But after more than a decade of cost pressure on the aerospace industry, "labor feels like they have some power." Spirit will suspend factory production prior to the expiration of its contract with the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) on June 24, but will continue to pay employees, it said. "Despite this setback, we are not distracted from the task at hand. We look forward to continued meetings with IAM leadership," Spirit said.<br/>